Download Cycles of Matter

Cycles of Matter
Recycling Matter
• Energy cannot be recycled but decreases as it is
passed through the ecosystem.
• Matter is continually recycled in a system.
• Cycles of Matter
– Water
– Carbon & Oxygen
– Nitrogen
Water Cycle
• Continuous process by
which water moves from
Earth’s surface to the
atmosphere and back.
• Includes
– Evaporation (Liquid Gas
Vapor)
– Condensation (Gas Vapor
 Liquid)
– Precipitation (Liquid falls
from clouds)
Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
• Photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight &
– Producers use carbon
dioxide and sunlight to chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2
produce glucose
(sugar).
– Uses carbon dioxide,
releases oxygen
• Respiration
– Consumers break down
6O2 + C6H12O6 --> 6H2O +
glucose to release
energy and carbon
6CO2 + energy
dioxide
– Uses oxygen, releases
carbon dioxide
Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
Plant uses carbon
dioxide to make
sugar molecules.
Plant takes in
carbon dioxide.
Animal eats sugar
molecule.
Animal releases
carbon dioxide
into the air.
Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
Plant uses carbon
dioxide to make
sugar molecules.
Plant takes in
carbon dioxide.
Animal eats sugar
molecule.
Animal releases
carbon dioxide
into the air.
Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
Plant uses carbon
dioxide to make
sugar molecules.
Plant takes in
carbon dioxide.
Animal eats sugar
molecule.
Animal releases
carbon dioxide
into the air.
Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
Plant uses carbon
dioxide to make
sugar molecules.
Plant takes in
carbon dioxide.
Animal eats sugar
molecule.
Animal releases
carbon dioxide
into the air.
Figure 3-13 The Carbon Cycle
Carbon & Oxygen Cycle
Section 3-3
CO2 in
Atmosphere
CO2 in Ocean
Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen Gas (Free nitrogen)
– Most common form of nitrogen.
– Cannot be used by organisms like us that need nitrogen
– Must be converted into usable form.
• Nitrogen Fixation
– Process of changing nitrogen gas from the air into nitrogen
compounds plants can use.
– Performed by bacteria (some live in roots of plants—called
nodules)
• Fixed Nitrogen
– Used by organisms to build proteins
• Decomposers
– Break down proteins into nitrogen compounds in soil.
– Bacteria further break down nitrogen into nitrogen gas
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Nodules
Figure 3-14 The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Section 3-3
N2 in Atmosphere
NH3
NO3and NO2-
Summary Questions
• Name and define the three major processes that
occur during the water cycle.
• Explain the role of plants in the carbon cycle.
• Why is nitrogen fixation a necessary part of the
nitrogen cycle?
• Where do nitrogen-fixing bacteria live?
• Explain how the movement of matter through an
ecosystem is different from the movement of
energy through an ecosystem.