1. Applying the Rules to Environmental Science: Biogeochemical Cycles

2. Earth: Matter does not come and go Earth is a closed system to matter So… matter is constantly recycled on Earth

3. Biogeochemical Cycles: Reservoirs & Pathways Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere

4. Some Major Cycles of Matter Water Cycle Rock Cycle Chemical Cycles Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorous Sulfur

5. Carbon Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere

6. Carbon Cycle: Reservoirs Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere 1x (= 7.3x10 17 grams carbon) 3x 55x 35,000x

7. Carbon Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Photosynthesis Respiration& Decay

8. Carbon Transfer: Biosphere Atmosphere Photosynthesis (Atmosphere to Biosphere) Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight --> Sugar + Oxygen Respiration (Biosphere to Atmosphere) Sugar + Oxygen --> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy

9. Carbon Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Photosynthesis Respiration& Decay Burial & Lithification Weathering & Volcanism Dissolution Photosynthesis Burial & Lithification Exsolution

10. Carbon Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Human Impacts Burning fossil fuels: Increased combustion Deforestation: Decrease Photosynthesis Increase Respiration Net Effect: Increase in Carbon in Atmosphere

11. Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide northern summer northern winter

12. Impact

13. Nitrogen Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Nitrogen fixation: bacteria lightning Waste & Decomposition Denitification: bacteria Erosion Absorption

14. Nitrogen- Fixing Bacteria in Root Nodules

15. Nitrogen Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Nitrogen fixation: industrial (fertilizer) combustion Increased Erosion Human Impacts Net Effect: Increase in Nitrogen in water & soil

16. Phosphorous Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Never enters the atmosphere Waste & Decomposition Weathering & Erosion Absorption Sedimentation Absorption

17. Phosphorous Cycle Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Mining, use (fertilizer, detergent, etc.) & increased runoff Human Impacts Net Effect: Increase in phosphorous in water & “algal blooms”; Depletion in soils More Phos. for organisms

18. Impact: Eutrophication

19. Impact: Red Tide

20. Sulfur Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Volcanoes & Weathering Waste & Decomposition Deep Sea Vents Absorption Sedimentation Absorption Precipitation “Evaporation” Weathering Bacteria Release Bacteria Absorption

21. Sulfur Cycle Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Burning Fossil Fuels Precipitation” Acid Rain Human Impacts Net Effect: Increase in atmosphere (health effects) and acid rain

22. Applying the Rules to Environmental Science: Food Webs

23. Earth: Earth constantly gains & loses energy Earth is a Open System to Energy Heat Sunlight

24. “Life is a struggle of an immense number of organisms, weighing next to nothing, for a small amount of energy.”

25. Producers ( Autotrophs) Tall grass prairie Energy enters the system

26. Producers Chlorophyll Photosynthesis Carbon Dioxide + Water + Sunlight --> Sugar + Oxygen

27. Producers Chemosynthesis Hydrogen Sulfide + Carbon Dioxide + Water + Oxygen + Geothermal Heat --> Sugar + Sulfuric Acid

28. Consumers --> Heterotrophs Primary Consumers - eat producers (Herbivores) Secondary Consumers - eat primary consumers (Carnivores) Tertiary Consumers - eat secondary consumers (Carnivores & Omnivores) Decomposers - break down dead organisms Called “Trophic” (Feeding) Levels Represent the flow of energy (food)

29. Called “Trophic” (Feeding) Levels Represent the flow of energy (food) Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Flow of Energy Sun

30. Forms a Food Chain What happens if… we kill off all the mice?

31. Food Webs What happens if… we kill off all the crab eater seals? Food webs are more stable than food chains.

32. Food Webs What happens if… we kill off all the crab eater seals? Food webs are more stable than food chains.

33. Lessons 1.Food webs are more stable than food chains 2.The produces are the key to the entire food web 3.Life is rough at the top

34. Energy & “Trophic” Levels Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Flow of Energy Sun 2nd Law of Thermodynamics Energy is lost during conversion About 90% loss each step 1000 units 100 units 10 units 1 units 900 lost 90 lost 9 lost

36. “Energy Units” Measured as Biomass Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary ConsumersShown as a Trophic Pyramid

37. “Energy Units” Measured as Biomass Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumers Energy captured and turned into biomass by all producers is called Net Primary Productivity

38. For example:

39. Why does diet mater? If each person required 10 g/m 2 food per day: This ecosystem could feed: 80 people on plants 4 people on herbivores 1 person on all carnivores

40. Applying the Rules to Environmental Science: Bioconcentration

41. Bioconcentration up the Trophic Pyramid Energy degrades…but matter does not Toxin (e.g. heavy metals)

42. Example: DDT High concentrations of DDT weakens egg shells in fish- eating birds & chicks die