The Microbial Universe

Part IIPatricia Archuleta

Emily Heckman

Question #1Microbes play a key role in the balance of recycling which 5 nutrients? Why might this be important for humans?

The Carbon CycleEnergy from the sunlight is absorbed by plants (photosynthesis)

Plants converts the sun’s rays to food energy, or carbon dioxide

Plants release oxygen

Animals breathe in oxygen

Animals exhale carbon dioxide

Plants absorb carbon dioxide

Visualize the Carbon Cycle

The Complete Carbon Cycle

Question #250% of the oxygen we breathe comes from plants. Where does the rest of the oxygen come from?

Important Connections

How is the carbon cycle vital to the food web in the ocean?

Referenceshttp://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/images/carboncycle.jpg

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/102/ccycle.gif

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/NMEA_Talk/NMEA%20Talk%2020032.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31RRgkxcIwo

http://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforkids/chemistry/atoms/pictures/nitrogen.jpg

http://www.energy.alberta.ca/NaturalGas/graphics/NGC_Molecule.jpg

References http://topnews.net.nz/images/marine-bacteria.jpg

http://www.chemicalelements.com/bohr/b0015.gif

http://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforkids/chemistry/atoms/pictures/oxygen.jpg

http://water.me.vccs.edu/concepts/oxcycle.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Electron_shell_016_Sulfur.svg/558px-Electron_shell_016_Sulfur.svg.png