1. Ecosystems
Cycles in Nature

2. The Cycles of Matter
Three cycles that moves matter among the environment and living things
Water cycle
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle

3. The Water Cycle

4. The Water Cycle
The movement of water among oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things.
Precipitation- water moving from atmosphere to land
Ex: rain, snow, sleet, hail
91% falls into the ocean, 9% on land renews fresh water supply

5. The Water Cycle
Evaporation- water moving from the land to the atmosphere
The sun’s heat causes water to change from liquid to vapor
Condensation- water vapor becoming liquid again due to cool atmosphere
Transpiration- water moving from living things back into the atmosphere
Ex: evaporation from leaves, perspiration from humans

6. The Water Cycle
Ground Water- precipitation that seeps into the ground and is stored in underground caverns and porous rock
Provides water for the soil, streams, rivers, and oceans
Our water supply is not getting larger so we must protect our fresh water from pollution!!

7. The Water Cycle

8. The Carbon Cycle

9. The Carbon Cycle
The movement of carbon from the environment into living things and back again
Carbon is essential to all living things because it is part of our molecules.

10. The Carbon Cycle
Photosynthesis- carbon moves from the environment into living things
Plants use carbon dioxide from the air to make sugar
Animals get carbon from eating plants
Respiration- carbon moves from living things back to the environment
Sugar molecules are broken down to release energy and carbon dioxide is given off when we exhale

11. The Carbon Cycle
Decomposition- carbon moving from dead organisms back to the environment
Fungi and bacteria decompose dead organisms
Combustion- the process of burning fuel
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon back into the atmosphere

12. The Carbon Cycle

13. The Nitrogen Cycle

14. The Nitrogen Cycle
The movement of nitrogen from the environment to living things and back again.
78% of our atmosphere is nitrogen gas
Nitrogen fixation- the process of bacteria changing nitrogen gas into usable nitrogen for plants
Animals get nitrogen from eating plants
Decomposition-Other bacteria decompose dead animals and animal waste and return nitrogen to the atmosphere

15. The Nitrogen Cycle

16. Dr. Destruction Comic Strips
You and your group will be responsible for creating a comic strip featuring an evil villain who plans to destroy an ecosystem by interrupting one of the cycles that runs in an ecosystem.
Choose one cycle from the following:
Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle

17. Dr. Destruction Comic Strips
The comic strip must explain:
The way the cycle works
How the villain plans on disrupting the cycle
What effects the villain’s interruptions will have on the cycle
What plan your superheroes have for stopping the interruption
You will be graded on:
Having all requirements in your comic strip
Using color and creativity in the final product
All members will be graded on the final project with a participation grade added based on their involvement in the project.