Biogeochemical Cycles: Ecosystem Recycling
Energy and chemical compounds flow through the ecosystem WATER NITROGEN CARBON PHOSPHORUS are RECYCLED!!! They move through a BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE: They move from the ABIOTIC (non-living) parts of the environment (like the atmosphere) LIVING THINGS (BIOTIC) THEN BACK AGAIN
Water Cycle
Water Cycle Cells contain 70-90% water (H2O) Most of Earth s water is in the oceans (~97%) so it is unavailable to living things Water in the atmosphere= WATER VAPOR GROUND WATER = water that is in the soil or stored underground WATER CYCLE = movement of water between reservoirs, includes: EVAPORATION TRANSPIRATION PRECIPITATION
Evaporation ADDS H20 VAPOR TO ATMOSPHERE HEAT CAUSES WATER TO EVAPORATE
Transpiration Plants take in water though their roots Plants often release water when they absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The released water is the process of transpiration
Precipitation is when water leaves the atmosphere Temperature & air pressure (ABIOTIC FACTORS) determine how much water can be stored in the atmosphere Once the atmosphere can t store any more water, we have precipitation= SNOW, RAIN, SLEET, HAIL OR FOG Precipitation
Carbon Cycle
The Carbon Cycle Carbon is important because all life on earth is based on carbon.
Carbon Cycle The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon through the living and non-living parts of the ecosystem The primary parts of the carbon cycle are: PHOTOSYNTHESIS + CELLULAR RESPIRATION
Photosynthesis PHOTOSYNTHESIS = when plants and other autotrophs use carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, water, and energy from sunlight to produce oxygen and glucose (a carbohydrate)
CELLULAR RESPIRATION The process in which all living things use oxygen (O2) to breakdown carbohydrates and release energy (ATP)
Photosynthesis vs. Cell Respiration CO2 O2
Decaying plants, animals, and waste decompose after millions of years and turn into fossil fuels. Decomposition
HUMAN INFLUENCE ON THE CARBON CYCLE In the past 150 years, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has risen quickly (as you can see in the graph) The cause of this sudden increase is human activity, mostly burning fossil fuels to use for energy Remember that FOSSIL FUELS: REMAINS OF ORGANISMS THAT HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED BY DECAY, HEAT, & PRESSURE ENERGY RICH ORGANIC MOLECULES Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide that goes into the atmosphere
Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle (continued) Burning fossil fuels releases energy and carbon dioxide Burning vegetation (plants, forests, etc.) also releases CO2. Destroying forests (deforestation) and plants also stops the plants from absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere then traps heat from the Sun, which causes the Earth s temperature to increase, a process known as Global Warming.
Nitrogen Cycle
The Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen cycle shows how nitrogen is recycled throughout the environment.
Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is needed to produce amino acids (proteins) and nucleotides (nucleic acids). These two important organic molecules form the structure of our cells and carry genetic information for the cell N2 (nitrogen gas) makes up 78% of the Earth s atmosphere Unfortunately, we can t directly use the nitrogen in the atmosphere, it needs to be fixed for our use
The Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen gas (N2) must be broken down by lightning, fire, or bacteria before plants & animals can use it.
NITROGEN FIXATION Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of nitrogen gas (N2) into Ammonia This process can only be performed by certain types of bacteria, called Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria. These bacteria can live in the soil or the roots of plants.
The Nitrogen Cycle Animals get nitrogen by eating plants. All nitrogen obtained by animals can be traced back to the eating of plants at some stage of the food chain.
Recycling Nitrogen Bodies of dead organisms contain Nitrogen, so does urine and other waste DECOMPOSERS break down dead organisms and remove that nitrogen