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Matter Cycles
Objective 3
Chapter 3-3
The Water Cycle
1.
2.
3.
4.
Water evaporates (or transpirates from plants) into
the atmosphere.
Water condenses (clouds), and then precipitates
(rains) back down to the Earth.
Water runs into streams and rivers (runoff) or is
absorbed into the ground (seepage) to become
ground water.
Water is taken up by the roots of plants or it makes
its way to the oceans, flowing above ground or
below ground.
The Water Cycle cont.
The Carbon Cycle
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Photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and
decomposition take up and release Carbon and
Oxygen.
Volcanic eruptions and erosion release Carbon
Dioxide into the atmosphere and oceans
Burial and decomposition of dead organisms store
Carbon underground (coal & oil).
Human activities, such as cutting and burning
forests, and burning fossil fuels, release Carbon
Dioxide into the atmosphere.
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Global Warming…
The Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
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Nitrogen Fixation changes the nitrogen in the
air into nitrogen life can use in the soil.
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Lightning, bacteria fertilizer
Once Nitrogen has been fixed in the soil it is
then taken up by producers (plants).
The Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus

It is not abundant in the atmosphere, so it
follows a simple cycle.
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soil  producer  herbivore  carnivore 
decomposer  back to soil
The Phosphorus Cycle
Limiting Nutrient
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Each ecosystem has at least 1 important
nutrient that limits it’s growth
Desert = Water
Rainforest = Nitrogen
Ocean = Phosphorus
The limiting nutrient determines the
ecosystems carrying capacity
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Carrying capacity = the maximum amount of life
an ecosystem can support