Nutrient cycles Intro and Carbon Cycle

Flows of energy and matter Energy flows through systems Matter lows through ecosystems (nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water) How much? Infinite (the sun is always shining somewhere) Finite When? Once Cycles and recycles repeatedly Outputs All organisms give out energy all the time as respiration releases heat All organisms release waste nutrients, carbon dioxide and water Quality Degrades from higher to lower quality energy (light to heat) so entropy increases May change form but does not degrade Storages Temporarily stored as chemical energy Is stored long and short term in chemicals forms

In your group read pages 85-86 focusing on cycles and flows, and nutrient cycle. Fill in this table on the whiteboard then I will check it and you will add it to your notebook Energy Flows Nutrient Cycles Flows through an ecosystem in one direction starting as solar radiation and finally leaving as heat released through respiration.

Read pages 86-87 The Carbon Cycle You will need to take notes on: Where is the carbon stored How carbon flows What is carbon fixation What is the carbon budget How do humans affect the carbon cycle As a group design an easy to understand diagram of the carbon cycle. It must have: Flows storages label the LARGEST carbon sink (It is not the ocean) Use the internet or my website