Download Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus
P
is a vital nutrient necessary for plants and
animals.
 It is the building block of important parts of the
body such as DNA, RNA, cell membranes, bones
and teeth.
 About 80% of the world’s phosphorus is used in
fertilizers and soft drinks.
Phosphorus
 Unlike
other cycles of matter compounds,
phosphorus cannot be found in atmosphere as a
gas.
 It usually cycles through water, soil, and
sediments.
 http://www.lcmrschooldistrict.com/roth/PowerPoin
t_Lectures/chapter46/videos_animations/phos_ani
m.html
Phosphorous Cycle
1. P is eroded from rocks and deposited in the soil.
2. Plants get P from the soil.
3. It is absorbed by herbivores (when they consume the
plants) and then by carnivores (when they eat the
herbivores.)
4. Deposited back into the soil when plants/animals decay or
through animal waste.
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/images/page-spec//phoscycle2.gif
Human Effects
 The
mining of phosphate ores for fertilizer affects
the time cycle of the phosphorus cycle.
 Mining results in the premature release of
phosphates into the cycle which can cause an
abundance of algae to form and cause hypoxia.
 Normal levels of Phosphorus in surface water .01
to .03 mg/l