Biogeochemical Cycles of MatterLeyda

Biogeochemical Cycles• Over 95% of the body is made of these

elements:S P O N C H : Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen• An ecosystem needs two things:

• A flow of Energy (goes one way through trophic levels and is lost along the way)

• Cycle of materials

Water Cycle• Water = H2O• Cycles Hydrogen and Oxygen through the

biosphere• Water makes up to 70% of the mass of our

bodies• Water is an important solvent for cell

processes

Precipitation

Run-off

Seepage

Ground water/

Uptake

Evaporation Transpiration

Condensation

Water Cycle

Water Cycle1. Precipitation: water falls to the Earth as rain, snow or ice

Water Cycle2. Runoff: Water moves along the Earth’s surface into rivers, lakes, or streams

Water Cycle3. Seepage: Water soaks through the soil and collects in pools underground.

• Can be gradual or sudden

Sinkhole – Guatemala May 2010• After hurricane – 60 meters deep• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoOHmdL2I9Y

Water Cycle4. Evaporation: Water changes from a liquid to a gas (usually occurs at the surface of lakes and oceans)

Water Cycle5. Transpiration: Water evaporates from the leaves of plants (the most evaporative)

Water Cycle6. Condensation: Water changes from gas to liquid (occurs when warm, moist air rises and cools in the upper atmosphere)

The Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

CO2 in atmosphere

CO2 in ocean

1

23

6

4

5

11

109

87

Carbon Cycle• Carbon is the main ingredient in all living things• Carbon makes up the 4 macromolecules of life:

• Carbohydrates• Lipids• Proteins• Nucleic Acids

Carbon Cycle

Into biosphere:Photosynthesis: Plants take in CO2 from the atmosphere and use it to make food.

Carbon Cycle

Into biosphere:Feeding: Animals obtain carbon by eating plants.

Carbon CycleInto Geosphere:Deposition:

When organisms decay, carbon is trapped in sediments underground that eventually form rocks or fossil fuels.

Carbon CycleInto Geosphere:Decomposition: Energy-rich, carbon-based

compounds formed from the decaying bodies of buried organisms.

Carbon CycleInto Atmosphere:Respiration: Animals breathe out CO2 when they burn food to get energy.

Carbon CycleInto AtmosphereVolcanic Activity: CO2 released into the

atmosphere

Carbon CycleInto Atmosphere:Human Activity: Burning fossil fuels in factories

and cars releases CO2 into the atmosphere.

Carbon CycleInto Atmosphere:Fires: Burning of wood releases CO2

Carbon Cycle – In the OceanInto Hydrosphere:Photosynthesis: Phytoplankton are Producers in

the Ocean Feeding: Phytoplankton (Producers) are eaten by

consumers.Respiration: CO2 is released into water when

organisms bodies burn food.Erosion: Rocks break down, releasing carbon into

the soil or ocean where it can be used by organisms.

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle• Nitrogen is important for making proteins

and DNA• Nitrogen makes up ¾ of our atmosphere

• N2 (Nitrogen gas) cannot be used by living things until it is changed into Nitrates, Nitrites, or Ammonia

Nitrogen CycleTo Geosphere:Fertilizers: Humans add usable nitrogen

directly to soil.

Nitrogen CycleTo Geosphere:Nitrogen Fixation: Bacteria in the roots of

plants change nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3) so that plants can use it.

Nitrogen CycleTo Geosphere:Atomspheric Nitrogen Fixation:

Lightening changes nitrogen gas into nitrate and nitrite.

Nitrogen CycleTo Biosphere:Uptake: Producers take up usable nitrogen

from the soil and ocean in order to make proteins

Nitrogen CycleTo Biosphere:Consumers: Obtain nitrogen by eating

producers

Nitrogen CycleTo Geosphere:Excretion: Urine returns nitrogen to the soil.

Nitrogen CycleTo Geosphere:Decomposition: When organisms decay,

nitrogen is returned to the soil.

Nitrogen CycleTo atmosphere: Denitrification: Some bacteria change

usable nitrogen back into nitrogen gas (N2) which goes back into the atmosphere.

Nitrogen CycleTo atmosphere:Burning Fossil Fuels (remember Nitrogen

is in proteins that makes up structure of plants and animals)

Nitrogen CycleTo hydrosphere:Runoff & Leaching

Nitrogen Cycle1. What are three ways nitrogen cycle allows

nitrogen to be taken out of the atmosphere and made usable for plants and animals?Nitrogen fixing bacteria, lightning, man

made fertilizer2. What are the three ways that ammonia (NH3) are formed?Nitrogen fixing bacteria, decomposition,

excretion, deposition

Phosphorus Cycle1. What is phosphorus used for in living things?

2. What form is phosphorus frequently found in?

3. What part of the biosphere is phosphorus not found in, that carbon, water and nitrogen are found in?

ATP (Energy), DNA (Phosphate Group)

Rocks, sediments, soil minerals

Atmosphere

The Carbon Cycle

To Atmosphere: DOESN’T HAPPEN

Phosphorous Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

To Geosphere: Runoff, dissolves in water, decomposers

Phosphorous Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

To Biosphere: Eating, absorb through roots

Phosphorous Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

To Hydrosphere: Runoff, leaching

Phosphorous Cycle

Limiting Nutrient• The substance that limits productivity

of an ecosystem• Farmers prevent this by adding

fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium)

• Problem= Algal bloom