Download Cycles of Matter Notes

Ecology
Cycles of matter
What is the Difference Between the Lakes?
Eutrophic lake
(high primary productivity
due to excessive nutrients)
Healthy lake
What types of processes are occurring in
each of these pictures? Which are natural?
Which are man-made?
Biogeochemical Cycles
• “Bio”
• “Geo”
• “Chemical”
-Biology
-Geology
-Chemistry
Elements, chemical, compounds,& other forms of
matter passed from one organism to another.
– How is this different from energy flow?
Recycling in the Biosphere
 Matter is recycled within &
between ecosystems
 Biological systems don’t use up
matter, they transform it
 Inhaling atoms that dinosaurs
did!!!
The Hydrologic Cycle
• All living things require water to survive
• Where does water come from?
-Moves between ocean,
atmosphere, & land
Nutrient Cycle
• Nutrients- all chemical substances that an
organism needs to sustain life
• Every organism needs nutrient to build
tissues and carry out essential life
functions
• AKA Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus
cycles
Carbon Cycle
• Carbon is a key ingredient of living tissue
• CaCo3 Animal skeletons also found in rocks
• CO2 (Carbon dioxide)
– Given off by plants & animals during respiration
– Makes up atmosphere
– Released into atmosphere by volcanic activity,
burning fossil fuels and vegetation
– Decomposition of organic matter
– Taken in by plants in photosynthesis
4 main processes move Carbon through the cycle:
1. Biological- photosynthesis, respiration,
decomposition
2. Geochemical – Erosion & volcanic activity
3. Mixed biogeochemical- burial & decomposition
4. Human Activities-mining, cutting & burning
forest, burning fossil fuels
CO2 in
Atmosphere
CO2 in Ocean
Nitrogen cycle
•All organisms require Nitrogen to make amino acids
(which are used to make proteins)
•N2 makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere (USELESS)
•Humans add Nitrogen thru Nitrate (fertilizers)
•Found in waste –
-Ammonia (NH3), nitrate ions (NO3-),
& nitrite ions(NO2-)
More on Nitrogen Cycle
• Only certain types of bacteria can use nitrogen gas
directly
• They are found in soil and on roots of plants called
legumes (“magical fruit”)
• They convert it to ammonia through Nitrogen Fixation
• Other bacteria convert ammonia into nitrates & nitrites
• Producers use it to make proteins
• Consumers eat producers and reuse
nitrogen to make proteins
DEATH!!!
• When organism die, decomposers
return nitrogen to soil as ammonia
• Ammonia taken up by producers
(again)
• Denitrification -other soil bacteria
convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.
Releases nitrogen into
atmosphere.
Nitrogen Cycle
N2 in atmosphere
NO3- & NO2NH3
ammonia
Nitrate & nitrite
Simplified
Nitrogen
Cycle
1.Organic wastes(from plants and animals) add nitrogen to the soil.
2.Bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen into forms plants can use.
3.Plants use nitrogen in the soil to grow, develop, and produce seeds.
4.Plants are eaten by animals and people. The organic waste (which
contains nitrogen) is returned to the soil again.
Phosphorus Cycle
(Phosphorus is required for the manufacture
of ATP and all nucleic acids)
1. Reservoir – erosion transfers phosphorus to water and soil;
sediments and rocks that accumulate on ocean floors
return to the surface as a result of uplifting by
geological processes
2. Assimilation – plants absorb inorganic PO43- (phosphate) from soils;
animals obtain organic phosphorus when they plants
and other animals
3. Release – plants and animals release phosphorus when they
decompose; animals excrete phosphorus in their waste
products
Nitrogen Cycle Game Assignment
• Write a paragraph about your trip through the
Nitrogen cycle.
• Include information about (1) where they
went, and (2) how they got to each
destination.
• Bring to class completed tomorrow.
Post Questions
•
•
•
•
How many stops can you make on your trip?
Will your journey ever end?
Was everyone’s journey the same? Why not?
What would happen if excess amounts of fertilizers
(high in Nitrogen and Phosphorus) were to leach into
our water supply