Cycling of Matter

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Cycling of Matter

• Nutrient Cycles

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Cycling of Matter

• Nutrient Cycles
• The movement of matter through living things,
  the physical environment and chemical reactions
• Ex. C, N, P, H2O , etc.

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Recall

• Matter is neither created nor destroyed
• Atoms simply change form from molecule to
  molecule!

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The Carbon Cycle

• Carbon is found as CO2 in the air and as part of
  almost all organic molecules

Amino Acid
Lipid
Glucose
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The Carbon Cycle
CO2
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Producers
Consumers
Decomposers
Compacted into Fossil Fuels
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Changes to the Carbon Cycle
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Carbon Cycle cartoon
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Speeding up the Cycle
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Changes in the Cycle
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The result is Global Warming!
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The Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen is found as N2 in the air, in animal
  wastes and fertilizers, and in many organic
  molecules (proteins, nucleic acids, etc.)

N
N
Protein Chain
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The Nitrogen Cycle
N2
Nitrogen Fixation (Bacteria)
Denitrification (Anaerobic Bacteria)
Consumers
Nitrates (NO3-)
Producers
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Heres the problem

• Nitrogen gas (N2) is a very stable molecule and
  does not react easily. To be useful to
  organisms, nitrogen must be in the form of
  Nitrate ions (NO3-)

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NITROGEN FIXATION
Bacteria
Lightning

• The process by which atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is
  converted into nitrate ions (NO3-)

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Nitrogen Fixation by Bacteria

• Most Nitrogen in an ecosystem fixed by bacteria.
• Usually found in soil, but sometimes found on
  roots of plants

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Nitrogen fixation By Lightning

• Energy causes nitrogen to react with oxygen in
  the atmosphere, forming nitrates.
• Nitrates dissolve in water and enter the roots of
  plants.

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THE ROLE OF DECOMPOSERS

• Break down dead matter and return Nitrates
  to the soil and to plants!

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Buthow does Nitrogen return to the atmosphere?
Denitrification The process of reducing
nitrates into nitrogen gas
BACTERIA!
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Nitrogen Cycle
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The Nitrogen Cycle
N2
Nitrogen Fixation (Bacteria)
Denitrification (Anaerobic Bacteria)
Consumers
Nitrates (NO3-)
Producers
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Activity

• Lets all be nitrogen!

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The Water Cycle

• Water is a necessity for the survival of all
  living things.
• Used for photosynthesis, structure, reproduction,
  as part of many chemical reactions, etc.

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The Water Cycle
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Water Cycle

• Precipitation rain and snow
• Evaporation liquid to a gas
• Condensation gas to a liquid
• Transpiration pulled up plants and
  released through leaves

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Cycling of Matter TO KNOW

• Matter cycles indefinitely on our planet. Atoms
  occur as part of many different structures as
  part of their natural cycle.
• Cycling of matter can be fast or very slow.
• Cycling of matter is critical to ensure the
  return of nutrients to living things.
• Human activities can alter these cycles.
• Examples Climate Change, Deforestation,
  Fertilizer and Pesticide use, Altering natural
  flow of water, etc.

The End!