nutrient cycles environmental science. a generalized cycle materials often move between the regions...
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Nutrient CyclesNutrient Cycles
Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science
A Generalized CycleA Generalized Cycle
Materials Materials oftenoften move move between the regions of between the regions of the earth-the earth-
- Atmosphere- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere- Hydrosphere
- Lithosphere- Lithosphere
- Ecosphere- Ecosphere
Cycle TerminologyCycle Terminology
ReservoirsReservoirs: areas where things are stored; : areas where things are stored; things can move in and outthings can move in and out
SinksSinks: areas where materials are stored over : areas where materials are stored over long periods of time and in large quantitieslong periods of time and in large quantities
FluxesFluxes: processes that move materials : processes that move materials
CarbonCarbon
Importance: Life on Earth is carbon based- we Importance: Life on Earth is carbon based- we are made of molecules that contain carbon. are made of molecules that contain carbon.
Every cell in your body contains carbon!Every cell in your body contains carbon!
The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle
ReservoirsReservoirs:: Ecosphere- Ecosphere-
Tissues of Tissues of plants, animals, plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, fungi, bacteria, etc.etc.
Lithosphere- Lithosphere- top soiltop soil
AtmosphereAtmosphere HydrosphereHydrosphere
The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle
SinksSinks::- Fossil Fuels Fossil Fuels
(coal, oil, (coal, oil, natural gas)natural gas)
- Rock- limestoneRock- limestone
The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle
FluxesFluxes::- PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis- RespirationRespiration- Burning fossil Burning fossil
fuelsfuels- Burning treesBurning trees- DecompositionDecomposition- ConsumersConsumers
Short CycleShort Cycle
AtmosphereAtmosphere to to PlantsPlants via via photosynthesisphotosynthesis
6CO6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O -> CO -> C66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22
Plants Plants to to Animals Animals via via eating or consumptioneating or consumption
Animals Animals to to Atmosphere Atmosphere via via respirationrespiration
CC66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22 -> 6CO -> 6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O O
Long CycleLong Cycle
AtmosphereAtmosphere to to PlantsPlants via via photosynthesisphotosynthesis
6CO6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O -> CO -> C66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22
Plants Plants to to Animals Animals via via eating or consumptioneating or consumption
Animals & Plants Animals & Plants to to Earth Earth via via decompositiondecomposition
Earth to Fossil Fuels via Earth to Fossil Fuels via compaction + millions of years!compaction + millions of years!
Fossil Fuels to Atmosphere via Fossil Fuels to Atmosphere via burningburning
The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle
Human Impact:Human Impact:
Humans have Humans have increased the increased the amount of COamount of CO22
in the in the atmosphere atmosphere from burning from burning fossil fuels and fossil fuels and wood.wood.
Nitrogen Nitrogen
Importance: nitrogen is needed to make many Importance: nitrogen is needed to make many compounds found in the bodycompounds found in the body DNADNA ProteinProtein EnzymesEnzymes
The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen Cycle
Reservoirs/Sinks:Reservoirs/Sinks: Atmosphere (78% Atmosphere (78%
NN22 gas, but we gas, but we
can’t use it!)can’t use it!) Ecosphere (tissues Ecosphere (tissues
of living things)of living things)
The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen Cycle
FluxesFluxes Bacteria perform Bacteria perform
many processes in many processes in the nitrogen cycle the nitrogen cycle (nitrogen fixation, (nitrogen fixation, ammonification, ammonification, denitrification, denitrification, decomposition).decomposition).
LightningLightning ConsumersConsumers
FixationFixation
Taking N2 (gas) in Taking N2 (gas) in the atmosphere and the atmosphere and making it available making it available in the soilin the soil
Bacteria!Bacteria!
AmmonificationAmmonification
Taking Taking elemental N2 in elemental N2 in the soil and the soil and turning it into as turning it into as NH4+ NH4+ AmmoniumAmmonium
Nitrogen fixing Nitrogen fixing bacteriabacteria
NitrificationNitrification
Taking Ammonium Taking Ammonium NH4+ and turning NH4+ and turning it into Nitrates it into Nitrates NO2- then into NO2- then into Nitrites NO3-Nitrites NO3-
This is usable by This is usable by plants!plants!
Done by two Done by two different types of different types of bacteriabacteria
DenitrificationDenitrification
Takes NO3- Takes NO3- (nitrate) and (nitrate) and turns back into turns back into gas N2gas N2
BacteriaBacteria
AssimilationAssimilation
Plants and animals Plants and animals take in the nitrogen take in the nitrogen and convert it into and convert it into the amino acids and the amino acids and DNA they need and DNA they need and useuse
Plants and animalsPlants and animals
AmmonificationAmmonification
Taking organic Taking organic nitrogen from nitrogen from decomposing plants decomposing plants and animals or animal and animals or animal waste and turning into waste and turning into Ammonium NH4+Ammonium NH4+
Bacteria, of courseBacteria, of course
The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen Cycle
Our Impact:Our Impact:The Haber-Bosch The Haber-Bosch
Process removes Process removes NN22 from the from the
atmosphere and atmosphere and use it to make use it to make fertilizer.fertilizer.
PotassiumPotassium
Importance: It is a mineral that is needed for Importance: It is a mineral that is needed for muscle growth and for the normal function of muscle growth and for the normal function of cells and tissues.cells and tissues.
Potassium CyclePotassium Cycle Reservoirs/Reservoirs/
sinks: sinks: Lithosphere: Lithosphere:
Mineral Mineral deposits and deposits and surface soilsurface soil
Ecosphere: Ecosphere: Tissues of Tissues of living thingsliving things
Potassium CyclePotassium Cycle
Fluxes: Fluxes: WeatheringWeathering Uptake by plantsUptake by plants DecompositionDecomposition ConsumersConsumers
PhosphorusPhosphorus
Importance: needed for many biological Importance: needed for many biological compounds such as DNA and for bone compounds such as DNA and for bone formation.formation.
Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle
Reservoirs/Sinks: Reservoirs/Sinks: Lithosphere: Earth’s Lithosphere: Earth’s
crust and top soilcrust and top soil Ecosphere: tissue of Ecosphere: tissue of
living thingsliving things
Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle
Fluxes: Fluxes: DecomposersDecomposers ConsumersConsumers Weathering of rocksWeathering of rocks
Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle
Human Impact:Human Impact: Run-Run-off from farms contains off from farms contains high levels of high levels of phosphorus which make phosphorus which make their way into streams, their way into streams, rivers, etc.rivers, etc.
Too much of a good thing:Too much of a good thing:
Eutrophication: build-up of too many nutrients Eutrophication: build-up of too many nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus in a body of such as nitrogen or phosphorus in a body of water. water. Excess nutrients cause excessive algae growth.Excess nutrients cause excessive algae growth. The algae blocks sunlight from reaching the The algae blocks sunlight from reaching the
bottom, causing other algae to die.bottom, causing other algae to die. Bacteria populations increase and feed off of the Bacteria populations increase and feed off of the
dead algae and use up all the oxygen in the water.dead algae and use up all the oxygen in the water. Low oxygen levels cause other aquatic organisms Low oxygen levels cause other aquatic organisms
to die to leave the area.to die to leave the area.
EutrophicationEutrophication
EutrophicationEutrophication