1. Environmental SciencePS

2. Standards B-6.3 Illustrate the processes of succession in an ecosystem
B-6.4 Exemplify the role of organisms in the geochemical cycles (including the cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and water).
B-6.5 Explain how ecosystems maintain themselves through naturally occurring processes (including maintaining the quality of the atmosphere, generating soils, controlling the hydrologic cycle, disposing of wastes, and recycling nutrients).
B-6.6 Explain how human activities (including population growth, technology, and consumption of resources) affect the physical and chemical cycles and processes of Earth.

3. Vocabulary Agriculture Technology Alternative Energy Carbon Cycle
Carrying Capacity
Consumption of Resources
Denitrification
Deposition
Ecological Succession
Geochemical Cycles
Geosphere
Greenhouse Effect
Hydrologic Cycle
Industrial Technology
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Fixation
Non-Renewable Resources
Ozone Layer
Pioneer Species
Population Growth
Primary Succession
Renewable Resources
Secondary Succession
Sink
Soil Erosion
Sustainability
Technology
Water Cycle

4. Section 1: Succession in Ecosystems

5. Succession is a series of changes in an ecosystem when one community is replaced by another community because of changes in biotic and abiotic factors.
Succession occurs in all ecosystems.

6. 2. Primary Succession
Takes place in an area that has not been inhabited before by plants and animals
Examples: rock surfaces formed by lava, rocks scraped clean by glaciers, and city streets

7. Primary Succession Begins with organisms that can grow without soil
Lichens and some mosses break down rocks into smaller species. These are examples of pioneer species.
When there is enough soil and nutrients small plants start to grow and break the rock down further which makes more soil.
Seeds from other plants and small trees grow.
As species grow and die their decomposed bodies add nutrients to the soil and even larger plants are able to populate the area.

8. Lichen

9. Primary Succession

10. 3) Secondary Succession
Begins in an area where there used to be an community and has well-formed soil
Examples: abandoned farmland, empty lots, clear-cut forest areas, areas burned by forest fires.

11. Secondary Succession
When something like a hurricane, wildfire, or human activities destroys a community secondary succession takes place.
It is like primary succession in the later stages after soil has formed.
When the disturbance is over, the ecosystem restores the original condition of the community.

12. Secondary Succession
Occurs faster than primary succession because soil is already present
When disturbances happen often or are intense, the area will mostly have the species that are present in the early stages
When disturbances are moderate, the area will have habitats at different stages.

13. Section 2 – Biogeochemical Cycles

14. Biogeochemical Cycles
Biogeochemical cycles are the movement of forms of matter through the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
Matter changes forms but is never created or destroyed.
In biological systems matter is used over and over again in different forms.

15. 2) Carbon Cycle
Carbon is the major part of biochemical compounds.
Carbon is the major part of living things (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids).

16. Carbon Cycle
Carbon is found in the atmosphere and in many minerals, rocks, and fossil fuels (gas, petroleum, coal).
fossil fuels
photosynthesis
carbon dioxide
dissolved in water
decomposition
of organisms
respiration
carbon
dioxide
in air
combustion

17. Anything that stores carbon is called a sink.
Oceans are the Earth's largest carbon sinks
Plants and soil are also carbon sinks.

18. Carbon Cycle Ways Carbon is Recycled Photosynthesis
Plants and other photosynthetic organisms use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it into simple sugars.
Respiration
Organisms (like us!) break down glucose in our bodies and carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere when we breath out.

19. Carbon Cycle Decomposition
When organisms die, decomposers break the bodies down into carbon compounds that enrich the soil and are eventually released into the atmosphere as CO2.
Conversion of biochemical compounds
Organisms store carbon as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids (fats), and nucleic acids in their bodies.

20. Carbon Cycle Other ways carbon may be released:
Combustion: Burning of wood or fossil fuels – this releases Co2 into the atmosphere.
Weathering of rocks: Bones and shells fall to the bottom of oceans or lakes and become a part of the rocks, such as calcium carbonate. When these sedimentary rocks weather, carbon is released into the ocean and eventually into the atmosphere.

21. 3) Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen is needed to build proteins in organisms and is found in materials that compose soil and aquatic sediments.
Elemental nitrogen (N2) is found in the atmosphere

22. Nitrogen Cycle Ways organisms recycle nitrogen: Nitrogen-Fixation
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria which live in the soil, roots of plants, and aquatic ecosystems, convert nitrogen from the air into forms that plants can use
Intake of nitrogen into organisms
Plants take in nitrogen through their roots in the form of ammonia and nitrate. This is how nitrogen enters the food chain.

23. Nitrogen Fixation Bacteria live in these little nodules
A bunch of bacteria in a root nodule

24. Nitrogen Cycle Decomposition
When an organism dies or from animal waste, decomposers return nitrogen to the soil.
nitrogen in
atmosphere
animals
denitrifying
bacteria
nitrifying
ammonium
ammonification
decomposers
plant
nitrogen-fixing
bacteria in soil
bacteria in roots
nitrates
nitrites
nitrogen in
atmosphere
animals
denitrifying
bacteria
nitrifying
ammonium
ammonification
decomposers
plant
nitrogen-fixing
bacteria in soil
bacteria in roots
nitrates
nitrites

25. Nitrogen Cycle Denitrification
Denitrifying bacteria break down nitrogen compounds in the soil and release it into the atmosphere.

26. 4. Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle)
water is necessary for all life processes in living things.
Water is in the atmosphere, surface of the earth, underground, and in organisms.
The water cycle is driven by the heat from the sun because it causes evaporation

27. Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle)
precipitation
condensation
transpiration
evaporation
water storage
in ocean
surface
runoff
lake
groundwater
seepage

28. Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle)
Ways organisms recycle water:
Intake of water
Organisms use water to perform life functions
Transpiration
The release of water back into the atmosphere by plants
Respiration
Organisms produce water as a by-product of metabolizing food
Elimination
Organisms need water to help with eliminating wastes

29. 8)Water Cycle This cycle is maintained by the sun and weather
How the water cycle purifies water
evaporation Evaporated water has no impurities
Water seeps through soil and rock is filtered of impurities
As water flows down streams, heavier particles settle out which leaves purified water to travel to the ocean

30. Section 3 – Ecosystem Care

31. The earth is made of 4 parts:
Naturally occurring processes on Earth are needed to help ecosystems to maintain the materials that organisms need.
The earth is made of 4 parts:
Biosphere (inhabited by life)
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Geosphere
These systems must interact efficiently for an ecosystem to maintain itself

32. 3.) Maintaining the Quality of the Atmosphere
Oxygen and carbon dioxide are cycled through the atmosphere (process is photosynthesis and respiration)
Plants use carbon dioxide in the air to make their food and give off oxygen as a waste product
Animals use the oxygen for respiration and release carbon dioxide as a waste product.
oxygen
respiration
carbon
dioxide
photosynthesis

33. Maintaining the quality of the atmosphere
The oxygen produced during photosynthesis is also used to make up the ozone layer which protects the biosphere from the Sun’s radiation.
Water also maintains the atmosphere
When water vapor condenses, dust and other particles are removed from the atmosphere and falls with the rain or snow. (The air gets cleaned!) Air gets washed!!

34. 4. Greenhouse Effect
Carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor trap heat energy to help maintain Earth’s temperature
Greenhouse gases do not let heat pass through them very well, so heat that the Earth releases stays trapped
The amount of carbon dioxide depends on how much photosynthetic organisms are absorbing it.

35. Greenhouse Effect Amount of CO2 in the atmosphere Green house effect
Average Global Temperatu re
Plant cover on earth
Rate of photosyn
Thesis
Amount of CO2 absorbed by plants
Higher
Increases
Decreases
Lower

36. 5) Global Warming
Global warming is the trend of increasing global temperatures
Scientists believe the increased temperatures are from greenhouse gases given off by industry and automobiles
Global warming is a hotly debated topic - some scientists believe global warming is a result of climate patterns
There is concern over how these temperature changes will affect ecosystems and especially biodiversity

37. 6) Air Pollution
Most air pollution comes from the burning of fossil fuels such as gas and oil.
Smog is air pollution that results from the interaction of sunlight and pollutants including particulates (tiny particles of dust, metal, and fuel).
Acid rain is a type of precipitation produced when pollutants cause the rain's pH to drop (makes it more acidic).
Acid rain makes lakes and streams more acidic, threatening water supply and the habitats of many species. It also damages plants.

38. 7) Generating Soils
Soil is part of the 1. geosphere – they are 2. always being formed and eroded
Soil is made of: 3. minerals, organic matter, water, and air
Organic matter – 4. was once part of a living thing
Soil is formed from by a. weathering of inorganic materials by b. wind, water, and ice and the c.decaying of organic materials

39. Generating Soil
6. Wind, water, and ice cause soil erosion and deposition which moves soil from one place to another
Plants help keep the process of soil production to be consistent with the process of soil erosion
7. The plants roots hold the dirt in place, and also block wind from blowing the dirt)
Soil is needed for 8.succession to take place.

40. Water Pollution Water Pollution
1. Runoff from farms and cities may contain toxic chemicals and trash that can 2.disrupts the stability of freshwater lakes and streams.
3. a stable ecosystem is balanced and healthy
Ex. fertilizers from farms 5.can cause algae overgrowth which 6.lowers the amount of oxygen for the fish

41. An indicator speci es 7.gives a sign that an ecosystem is being affected such as frogs with deformities from coming into contact with toxic chemicals
Biomagnification takes place when a pollutant moves up the food chain as predators eat prey.
8. The species at the top are affected the most.

42. 9) Disposing of Waste & Recycling Nutrients
Waste materials from organisms are decomposed by bacteria or other organisms
Nutrients cycle from organisms to the environment and back by the geochemical cycles

43. 10. Human Roles in Geochemical Cycles
6.People depend on the resources and cycles on earth to provide clean water, clean air, and soil that can support crops.
Human activities such as7. population growth, technology, and using resources affect the cycles and processes on earth.

44. Section 4 – Population Growth

45. 1. Carrying Capacity
Energy, water, oxygen, and nutrients determine the carrying capacity of humans on earth.
In order for humans to have sustainability, there needs to be a balance between Earth’s resources and carrying capacity, the needs of humans, and the needs of other species on earth

46. 2. Population Growth Population growth has grown exponentially
The population rate naturally slows as the Earth nears carrying capacity as the death rate increases and the birth rate decreases due to:
Food and water shortages
Pollution
Disease
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47. 3. Increasing Population Problems
Clean water runs low if water is being used up faster than it can be purified
More waste is produced than can be managed. Can also be expensive to deal with
Fertile soil for agriculture is lost when land is cleared
Worldwide demand for land has led to deforestation

48. Increasing Population Problems
Areas of the world with very high populations have low amounts of fertile soil, clean water, and available land. This affects the water, nitrogen, and carbon cycles as well as soil regeneration.

49. Section 5 - Human Activity on Earth

50. 1. Technology
Technology applies scientific knowledge to find solutions and develop products that meet the needs of humans. Technology has helped humans, but has also caused pollution.
Now humans depend on technology to provide cleaner ways to deal with waste and to clean up pollution.
Technology agriculture and industry can either have a positive or negative impact on Earth.

51. 2. Agricultural Technology
Technology has improved the ability to grow crops to sustain a growing world population.
Sustainable practices can conserve fertile soil and reduce erosion

52. Agricultural Technology
Farm machinery use nonrenewable resources and can contribute to erosion and air pollution.
Fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and livestock waste can change the soil and have both positive or negative effects on the different cycles we are learning about.

53. 3) Industrial Technology
helped to develop communication, transportation, and industry.
chemicals like CFCs can deplete the ozone layer. The ozone layer helps protect the earth form ultraviolet waves.
Getting rid of old technological equipment has become a problem.

54. CFCs were once used in air conditioners

55. Industrial Technology
Burning fossil fuels is needed for industry and transportation and helps sustain the growing human population; however:
It increases greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) which many scientists believe increase global temperatures
It produces acid rain.

56. 4) Alternative Technology
Using natural renewable resources (wind, water, geothermal, or solar energy) decreases the burning of fossil fuels
Nuclear energy is another energy source. A big problem with nuclear energy is where to store the waste produced.

57. 5) Consumption of Resources
As the population increases and technology expands, the need for resources increases. There is only a limited supply.
Resources such as food, clean water, and timber are renewable.
Renewable resources have factors that limit their production
Ex: growing grain requires land, fertile soil, and clean water

58. Consumption of Resources
Nonrenewable resources cannot be produced at the rate they are consumed
Minerals and metals are important for industry but are decreasing in availability
Minerals are formed so slowly that they take to long to replace
Sustainable use of resources can be accomplished by not using them as much, reusing products, and recycling waste.