1. 1) What are biogeochemical cycles and examples of them on Earth? 2) Why are they important? 3) How do you interpret models of biogeochemical cycles?

2.  Biogeochemical cycles  Biogeochemical cycles are cycles that connect biological, geological and chemical processes on earth.  They are important in making recycling the nutrients, minerals and water essential for life.  Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.  Matter can cycle through the biosphere because biological systems do not use up matter, they only change it.

3. Matter can neither be created nor destroyed, only transferred or transformed

4. Carbon is an essential organic compound, and an important ingredient in living tissue. Sources of carbon are plant and animal respiration, burning fossil fuels, and auto and factory emissions.

5. Day 2: Carbon Cycle Plants absorb carbon through photosynthesis. 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 Carbon is released into the soil when organisms, like bacteria, decompose plants and animal wastes.

6. Carbon can leave the cycle when organic matter is buried and becomes fossilized as coal or oil. Oceans can also absorb carbon. Humans are presently burning fossil fuels many times faster than carbon is fossilized or absorbed by oceans. Therefore, the amount of carbon in the cycle is increasing. Day 2: Carbon Cycle Leave for sustainable development FCIM

7. Important nutrient for all living things and in protein formation. Nitrogen fixing bacteria found in soil and some plants (e.g. legume plants), nitrifying algae and lightning (in minor amounts) can take nitrogen out of the atmosphere.

8. Plants absorb nitrogen through their roots and animals eat the plants. Denitrifying bacteria release nitrogen to the atmosphere.

9.  Label the parts of the water cycle: a) runoff b) power source c) condensation d) precipitation e) Evaporation (transpiration from plants)