1. Natural Cycles

2. Energy vs. Matter
Energy: flows in one direction
Ex. food chain

3. Energy vs. Matter
Matter: cycles throughout the environment

4. Water Cycle
Water Cycle
oEvaporation
oCondensation
oPrecipitation

5. Carbon Cycle Carbon Cycle:
Photosynthesis removes carbon from the atmosphere
Burning fossil fuels (gas) and respiration release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

6. Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle:
Bacteria in roots of legumes turn nitrogen into a compound that can be used by plants and animals

7. Succession
Succession: gradual change in living communities that follows a disturbance.

8. Primary Succession
Succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists
Examples: after a glacier or volcano

9. Secondary Succession
Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil
Example. land is cleared from a forest fire.
On a substrate that previously supported vegetation before an ecological disturbance (forest fire, flood, etc).

10. Succession:
Pioneer Species: colonizes the land first and starts off the ecological succession.
Climax Community: a community that has reached a steady state and is best adapted for that area.