BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

Law of conservation-atoms atoms neither created or destroyedSame atoms must be passed around again and againCHNOPS make up 98% of living biomassBiogeochemical cycles move atoms (matter, nutrients, CHNOPS) through the air, soil, water, rocks, and living organisms.Recycling of atoms & flow of energy sustain life on earth

BASIC PROCESSProducers incorporate atoms (inorganic form) from nonliving reservoirs and convert to organic moleculesConsumers eat producersDecomposers break down organic molecules to return atoms (inorganic form) back to abiotic

What to look for in a cycle?

Why is nutrient important?What are the reservoirs for the nutrient involved?What are the driving forces that transfers nutrient from abiotic to biotic and back to abioticHow have humans upset the natural cycling of particular nutrient?Description of cycle

WATER CYCLE-Why important

Living things are 75% waterHydrogen in water supplies protons and electrons for photosynthesisOxygen in water is released as free oxygen into air during photosynthesisMajor solvent in living things for chemical reaction to take place in cells and transportHomeostasis-high specific heat

Water Cycle-ReservoirsOcean AtmosphereGlaciersFresh waterGround waterLiving things

Water cycle-Driving force

The sun is the major driving force of the water cycleCauses evaporationCauses transpirationWhen cooler causes precipitation

Water cycle-Human Effect

Withdraw large amounts of waterPollute waterDeforestation (climate change)-Loss of transpiration-less water in atmosphere & increases temperature dries out soil. Creates desert. More carbon dioxide increases global warming.

Description of water cycle

Sun heats water in ocean Evaporates as vapor into airTranspiration from trees also add water vapor to atmosphereCooler temperatures cause vapor to condense and precipitateWater returns directly to oceans as precipitation or indirectly by runoff

Building blocks of cells-Proteins, Lipids, Carbohydrates, Nucleic acids are carbon based moleculesCarbon and oxygen from carbon dioxide is used to make glucose in photosynthesis

Carbon Cycle-Why important?

Carbon cycle reservoirsAtmosphere in the form of inorganic carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide dissolved in oceansLiving things in form of organic moleculesUnderground-fossil fuelsRocks-limestone (calcium carbonate)

Carbon cycle driving force

Photosynthesis captures inorganic carbon in form of carbon dioxide and converts it to organic molecules (glucose) Cell respiration returns carbon dioxide to abiotic

Carbon cycle-Human effect

Humans are adding excess carbon dioxide to atmosphere through burning of fossil fuels and deforestation (loss of carbon dioxide removal)

Carbon cycle description

Carbon dioxide is captured by plants and converted into organic molecules by photosynthesisConsumers eat plant and carbon ids transferredOrganism die and decomposers break organic molecules back to carbon dioxide and released back to airCell respiration also returns carbon dioxide back to air.Burning fossil fuels & volcanoes increase carbon dioxide in air

Nitrogen Cycle-Why important

Important in making nucleic acids, ATP, and Amino acids

Nitrogen Cycle-Reservoir

Atmosphere is 75% free nitrogen

Nitrogen Cycle driving force

BacteriaNitrogen fixing bacteria capture free nitrogen from air and convert it to ammoniaNitrifying bacteria-convert ammonium to nitrates and nitritesDenitrifying bacteria convert nitritrites back to free nitrogenAmmonifying bacteria convert organic molecules to ammonium

Nitrogen Cycle-human effect

Fertilizers contain large amounts of nitrogen-run off in stream create eutrophicationNitrogen released into air by factories combine with water to form nitric acid-acid rainFarming depletes soil of nitrogen

Nitrogen cycle description

Free atmospheric nitrogen is converted by nitrogen fixing bacteria found in soil and root nodules of legumes to ammoniaPlants can use ammonia but ammonia is usually converted to nitrates and nitrites by nitrifying bacteria which plants take upConsumers eat plantsOrganisms die and ammonifying bacteria convert back to ammonia which can be nitrified and reused or denitrified by denitrifying bacteria to free nitrogen again.

Create your own slides for the phosphorus cycle