Download Cycles of Matter 3-3

Cycles of Matter
Recycling in the Biosphere


Unlike the one way flow of energy,
matter is recycled within and between
ecosystems
Elements, chemicals and all other forms
of matter are passed from one organism
to another and from one part of the
biosphere to another, this is known as
the Biogeochemical cycles.
The Water Cycle




All living things need water to survive!
Water is recycled, it moves between
the ocean, atmosphere, and land.
Evaporation = water changes from water
to atmospheric gas.
Water can also enter the atmosphere in
by evaporating from the leaves of plants
in the process of transpiration.
The Water Cycle



Water once in the atmosphere as water
vapor condenses into droplets.
Once these droplets become to large
they fall to the earths surface as
precipitation.
Once on the ground, water runs along
the surface of the ground until it
enters a river or stream that carries it
back to an ocean or lake.
The Water Cycle
Nutrient Cycles



Every living organism needs nutrients to
grow and carry out essential life
functions.
Just like water nutrients are passed
between organisms and the environment
through biogeochemical cycles.
Nutrient = all the chemical substances
that an organism need to live.
The Carbon Cycle

Carbon is especially important to living
systems because it is the key ingredient
in all living organisms.
The Nitrogen Cycle




Organisms require nitrogen to make
amino acids, which build proteins
Nitrogen fixation = converting nitrogen
gas into ammonia, usually done by
bacteria that live in the soil
Some bacteria convert ammonia into
nitrates and nitrites
Denitrification = when bacteria convert
nitrates into nitrogen gas
The Nitrogen Cycle
The Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus is essential to living organisms because it
forms part of important molecules such as DNA and
RNA.
Nutrient Limitations



Primary Productivity = the rate at which
organic matter is create by producers
When an ecosystem is limited by a
single nutrient that is scarce or cycles
very slowly, this substance is called a
limiting nutrient.
Example fertilizers; they usually contain
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.