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Cycles of Matter
• Unlike the one-way flow of energy,
matter is ______________
Cycles of Matter
• Unlike the one-way flow of energy,
matter is recycled within and between
ecosystems.
Cycles of Matter
• Biogeochemical cycles –
Cycles of Matter
• Biogeochemical cycles –
Process in which elements, chemical
compounds, and other forms of matter
passed from one organism to another and
from one part of the biosphere to another
Cycles of Matter
• Biogeochemical cycles –
Biological
Geological
Chemical
Cycles are all connected
The Water Cycle
• Evaporation -
The Water Cycle
• Evaporation – process by which water
changes from liquid form to an
atmospheric gas
The Water Cycle
• Evaporation – process by which water
changes from liquid form to an
atmospheric gas
• Transpiration -
The Water Cycle
• Evaporation – process by which water
changes from liquid form to an
atmospheric gas
• Transpiration – process of water
evaporating from the leaves of plants
The Water Cycle
• Evaporation and
transpiration occur
The Water Cycle
• Evaporation and
transpiration occur
• Sun heats the
atmosphere
• Warm air rises, and
eventually cools
The Water Cycle
• Sun heats the
atmosphere
• Warm air rises, and
eventually cools
• Water vapor
condenses and forms
clouds
The Water Cycle
• When large enough,
water droplets return
to Earth’s surface in
form of precipitation
– rain, snow sleet or
hail
The Water Cycle
• When large enough,
water droplets return
to Earth’s surface in
form of precipitation
– rain, snow sleet or
hail
• On land, water runs
along surface until it
enters stream, river,
lake or ocean
The Water Cycle
• On land, water runs
along surface until it
enters stream, river,
lake or ocean
• Some water also seeps
into soil and becomes
ground water
The Water Cycle
• Some water also seeps
into soil and becomes
ground water
• Some water in soil
enters plants through
the roots
The Water Cycle
• Some water in soil
enters plants through
the roots and
water cycle begins again
Nutrient Cycles
Nutrient Cycles
• Benefits -
Nutrient Cycles
• Benefits –
– Every organism needs nutrients to build
tissues and carry out essential life functions
Nutrient Cycles
• Benefits –
– Every organism needs nutrients to build
tissues and carry out essential life functions
• Like water, nutrients are passed between organisms
and the environment through biogeochemical
processes
Nutrient Cycles
• Benefits –
– In many ecosystems, nutrients are in short
supply
Nutrient Cycles
• Benefits –
– In many ecosystems, nutrients are in short
supply
• Thus recycling nutrients is essential for the
ecosystem to keep functioning
Nutrient Cycles
• Benefits –
– Nutrient cycling prevents many chemicals
from reaching concentrations that would
otherwise be toxic or harmful to organisms
Nutrient Cycles
• Three cycles play especially prominent
roles in the biosphere
Nutrient Cycles
• Three cycles play especially prominent
roles in the biosphere
– The carbon cycle
Nutrient Cycles
• Three cycles play especially prominent
roles in the biosphere
– The carbon cycle
– The nitrogen cycle
Nutrient Cycles
• Three cycles play especially prominent
roles in the biosphere
– The carbon cycle
– The nitrogen cycle
– The phosphorus cycle
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Biological processes -
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Biological processes – photosynthesis,
respiration, and decomposition of plants and
animals
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Geochemical processes -
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Geochemical processes – release of carbon
dioxide to atmosphere by volcanoes
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Mixed biogeochemical processes -
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Mixed biogeochemical processes – burial of
carbon-rich remains of organisms and their
conversion into fossil fuels (coal and
petroleum) by the pressure of overlying earth
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Human activity -
The Carbon Cycle
• There are four different kinds of processes
involved in the carbon cycle
– Human activity – including mining, the
burning of fossil fuels, and the cutting and
burning of forests
The Carbon Cycle
• In the atmosphere,
carbon is present as
carbon dioxide.
CO2
CO2
The Carbon Cycle
• In the atmosphere,
carbon is present as
carbon dioxide.
• This carbon dioxide
came from
–
–
–
–
Volcanic activity
Respiration
Burning of fossil fuels
Decomposition of
organic matter
CO2
CO2
The Carbon Cycle
• Plants take in carbon
dioxide
CO2
CO2
The Carbon Cycle
• Plants take in carbon
dioxide
CO2
– The carbon is used to
build carbohydrates
during photosynthesis
CO2
The Carbon Cycle
• The carbohydrates are
passed along food
webs to animals and
other consumers
CO2
CO2
The Carbon Cycle
• In the ocean
organisms use carbon
to make calcium
carbonate
CO2
CO2
The Carbon Cycle
• In the ocean
organisms use carbon
to make calcium
carbonate
– This calcium
carbonate accumulates
in marine sediments
and in the bones and
shells of organisms
CO2
CO2
The Carbon Cycle
• These calcium
carbonate compounds
eventually break
down and the carbon
returns to the
atmosphere
CO2
CO2
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen fixation -
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen fixation – process where nitrogen
gas is converted to ammonia by bacteria
found in roots of plants called legumes
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen required to
make amino acids,
which are used to
build proteins.
N2
NH3
NO3NO2-
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen required to
make amino acids,
which are used to
build proteins.
• When organisms die,
decomposers return
nitrogen to the soil as
ammonia
N2
NH3
NO3NO2-
The Nitrogen Cycle
• nitrogen gas (N2)
makes up 78% of
atmosphere
N2
NH3
NO3NO2-
The Nitrogen Cycle
• nitrogen gas (N2)
makes up 78% of
atmosphere
• Through nitrogen
fixation, nitrogen gas
converted to ammonia
N2
NH3
NO3NO2-
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Ammonia (NH3),
nitrate ions (NO3-),
and nitrite ions(NO2-)
are found in wastes
produced by
organisms
N2
NH3
NO3NO2-
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Ammonia (NH3),
nitrate ions (NO3-),
and nitrite ions(NO2-)
are found in wastes
produced by
organisms
• These compounds
taken up by producers
to make proteins
N2
NH3
NO3NO2-
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Soil bacteria convert
nitrates into nitrogen
gas in process called
denitrification
N2
NH3
NO3NO2-
The Phosphorous Cycle
• Important to living organisms because it
forms part of DNA and RNA
The Phosphorous Cycle
• Important to living organisms because it
forms part of DNA and RNA
• Not very common in biosphere
The Phosphorous Cycle
• Important to living organisms because it
forms part of DNA and RNA
• Not very common in biosphere
• Does not enter atmosphere
The Phosphorous Cycle
• Important to living organisms because it
forms part of DNA and RNA
• Not very common in biosphere
• Does not enter atmosphere
– Instead it remains mostly on land in rock and
soil minerals, and in ocean sediments
The Phosphorous Cycle
• Does not enter atmosphere
– Instead it remains mostly on land in rock and
soil minerals, and in ocean sediments
– As rocks wear down, phosphate is released
The Phosphorous Cycle
• Does not enter atmosphere
– Instead it remains mostly on land in rock and soil
minerals, and in ocean sediments
– As rocks wear down, phosphate is released
– It is released into streams and rivers and eventually
makes its way to the ocean and is used by marine
organisms
– On land it is absorbed by plants and passes up through
the food chain
Nutrient Limitation
• Primary productivity -
Nutrient Limitation
• Primary productivity – rate at which
organic matter is created by producers.
Nutrient Limitation
• Limiting nutrient – single nutrient that
either is scarce or cycles very slowly,
limiting the growth of organisms in an
ecosystem
Nutrient Limitation
• Limiting nutrient – single nutrient that
either is scarce or cycles very slowly,
limiting the growth of organisms in an
ecosystem
– Examples –
• farmers add fertilizers that contain nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium to their crops
Nutrient Limitation
• Limiting nutrient – single nutrient that
either is scarce or cycles very slowly,
limiting the growth of organisms in an
ecosystem
– Examples –
• farmers add fertilizers that contain nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium to their crops
• In freshwater aquatic environment, phosphorus is
usually the limiting nutrient
Nutrient limitation
• Algal bloom -
Nutrient limitation
• Algal bloom – immediate increase in the
amount of algae and other producers that
results from a large input of a limiting
nutrient
Nutrient limitation
• Algal bloom – immediate increase in the
amount of algae and other producers that
results from a large input of a limiting
nutrient
– Often results when runoff from heavily
fertilized fields increases amount of limiting
nutrient