Cycles of Matter

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Cycles of Matter

• Chapter 3 The Biosphere
• Section 3-3 pages 74-80

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BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES-connecting the biological,
geological, and chemical aspects of the biosphere
Matter Statement

• Matter within ecosystems is recycled within and
  between ecosystems

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BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• Cycle - water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen other
  elements cycle from the abiotic (geo nonliving
  environment) to biotic (bio living organisms)
  then back to the environment.
• Simply put, biogeochemical cycles pass the same
  molecules around again and again within the
  biosphere.

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BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• Most element cycles have an atmospheric bank
  where the element is found in large amounts.

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BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• Elements move from the bank into organisms.

• Organisms release elements in daily activities
  or after death.

• Decomposers (or combustion or erosion) break down
  organic matter.
• What is the result of their actions?

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BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• Three example cycles
• Water
• Carbon (carbon-oxygen)
• Nitrogen

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WATER CYCLE

• evaporation heating of water from liquid to
  atmospheric gas.
• condensation cooling of water from vapor to
  tiny droplets that form clouds.
• precipitation droplets too large to be
  contained in clouds and water returns to earth as
  rain, snow, or hail.
• transpiration evaporation of water from leaves
  of plants.
• runoff excess water from precipitation that
  comes from streams and rivers and carried to
  oceans and lakes.
• accumulation collection of water on earth.

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Refer to Figure 3-11, page 75
Accumulation
http//ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.htm
l
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CARBON CYCLE

• The exchange of gases during photosynthesis and
  respiration is a major example of the
  living-nonliving cycle of carbon-oxygen.

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CARBON CYCLE

• How does carbon enter the living part of the
  cycle?

CO2
CO2
CO2
CO2
CO2
CO2
CO2
CO2

• CO2 H2O ----gt C6H12O6 O2

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CARBON CYCLE

• Carbon is returned to the atmosphere environment
  by
• cellular respiration
• erosion
• combustion
• decomposition

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CARBON CYCLE

• respiration process where organisms obtain
  energy from breakdown of glucose.
• photosynthesis plants use light energy (sun) to
  make glucose.
• decomposition breakdown of dead organic matter.
• combustion burning of fossil fuels (gas,
  petroleum, coal) which release CO2 into
  atmosphere.
• erosion runoff of soil into body of water

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Carbon Cycle Refer to Figure 3-13, page 77
http//www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/images/c
arboncycle.jpg
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NITROGEN CYCLE

• 79 of the atmosphere is nitrogen gas but it is
  in a form most living things cannot use.

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NITROGEN CYCLE

• If we cant take in free nitrogen, how do we
  acquire it so we can use it in our bodies?

• Why do we need nitrogen in our bodies?

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NITROGEN CYCLE

• How do we acquire usable nitrogen?

• Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert nitrogen into
  nitrates.
• Plants absorb nitrates.
• Animals eat plants.

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NITROGEN CYCLE

• How does the nitrogen return to the atmosphere?

• Denitrifying bacteria convert the nitrates back
  into nitrogen.

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NITROGEN CYCLE

• Why do we need nitrogen?

?
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NITROGEN CYCLESimplified
Free N2 in Atmosphere
NITRATES
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NITROGEN CYCLESimplified

• free N2 bank atmosphere
• nitrogen fixation conversion of atmospheric
  nitrogen to ammonia
• nitrates converted form of nitrogen from
  atmosphere.
• organisms living things
• organic material components of living things
  made of C, H, O, N
• denitrification ammonia and nitrates converted
  to nitrogen and released back into atmosphere

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Refer to Figure 3-14, page 78
N2 in Atmosphere
NO3- NO2-
NH3
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All Cycles Are Related