Ecosystems Cycle Materials

Ecosystems Cycle Materials MATERIALS CYCLE BETWEEN LIVING AND NONLIVING THINGS Could you be drinking the same water a saber tooth tiger lapped up? Could you be eating the same organic compounds eaten by a prehistoric man? Could you be breathing the same air breathed in by a pilgrim? What do you think? Is the water we have on earth today the same water that was here millions of years ago? Discuss this with a partner. Write what you think and tell why you think that.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials MATERIALS CYCLE BETWEEN LIVING AND NONLIVING THINGS

Ecosystems Cycle Materials MATERIALS CYCLE BETWEEN LIVING AND NONLIVING THINGS BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE – a cycle in which a substance such as carbon or water enters into an environment’s living reservoir for a certain period of time and then returns to a nonliving reservoir. Also referred to as a Nutrient Cycle. “All materials that cycle through living organisms are important in maintaining the health of the ecosystem, but four substances are particularly important: Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous.”

Ecosystems Cycle Materials THE WATER CYCLE IS DRIVEN BY THE SUN GROUND WATER – water found beneath the earth’s surface. TRANSPIRATION – loss of water from a plant through its stomata*. * Stomata are tiny openings on the underside of leaves, very important structures involved in gas exchange.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials THE WATER CYCLE IS DRIVEN BY THE SUN

Ecosystems Cycle Materials THE WATER CYCLE IS DRIVEN BY THE SUN Animations Water http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/facilities/multimedia/uploads/alberta/watercycle.html http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/tlw3/eBridge/Chp29/animations/ch29/1_water_cycle.swf http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/HydrologicCycle.html http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/HydrologicScene.html Watershed http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/Watershed.html http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/Infiltration.html http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/Evaporation.html http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/HSPrecipitation.html

Ecosystems Cycle Materials MATERIALS CYCLE BETWEEN LIVING AND NONLIVING THINGS Water is cycled through different ecosystems. In aquatic environments water is cycled by the processes of evaporation and precipitation. In terrestrial biomes water is also cycled by processes of evaporation and precipitation. Other processes include surface run off, absorption, and transpiration.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials THE CARBON CYCLE IS LINKED TO ENERGY CELLULAR RESPIRATION- Process by which living things oxidize organic compounds to release energy, CO2 is a byproduct. COMBUSTION – Burning of wood or other organic compounds results in release of energy (Heat and/or Light) and CO2 which enters the atmosphere. Organic compounds trapped in soil become fossil fuels that are burned in combustion reactions.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials THE CARBON CYCLE IS LINKED TO ENERGY EROSION - CO2 dissolved in water is used by living things to make Calcium Carbonate CaCO3 , which eventually turns into limestone, which when exposed will erode away to produce CO2 again.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials THE CARBON CYCLE IS LINKED TO ENERGY Carbon is cycled between the nonliving environment and living organisms. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the air or water is used by living things. For example in photosynthesis Carbon Dioxide is used by Algae, Plants and Bacteria to make organic compounds. Organic compounds are broken down by either Respiration, combustion or erosion.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials THE CARBON CYCLE IS LINKED TO ENERGY http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/facilities/multimedia/uploads/alberta/CarbonCycle.html

Ecosystems Cycle Materials PLANTS AND BACTERIA TAKE A PART IN THE PHOSPHOROUS AND NITROGEN CYCLES NITROGEN FIXATION –the process of combining nitrogen gas N2 and Hydrogen to form ammonia.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials PLANTS AND BACTERIA TAKE A PART IN THE PHOSPHOROUS AND NITROGEN CYCLES The other four stages of the nitrogen cycle: Ammonification - is the production of ammonia by bacteria during the decay of nitrogen containing urea (found in urine). Nitrification - is the production of nitrate from ammonia. Assimilation - is the absorption and incorporation of nitrogen into plant and animal compounds. Denitrification - is the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials PLANTS AND BACTERIA TAKE A PART IN THE PHOSPHOROUS AND NITROGEN CYCLES http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/tlw3/eBridge/Chp29/animations/ch29/1_nitrogen_cycle.swf

Ecosystems Cycle Materials

Ecosystems Cycle Materials

Ecosystems Cycle Materials Phosphorus Cycle Phosphorus circulates through water, the Earth's crust, and living organisms. It is not carried in the atmosphere and is most likely to enter food chains following the slow weathering of phosphate rock deposits. Some of the released phosphates become dissolved in water which is taken up by plant roots. Phosphorus is an important chemical for plants and animals. Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants and/or herbivores. It is part of DNA, certain fats in cell membranes, bones, teeth and shell of animals. Phosphorous is found in ATP.

Ecosystems Cycle Materials Phosphorus Cycle Phosphates are not very soluble in water, and not found in many types of rocks. Phosphorus is therefore the main limiting factor for plant growth in most soils and aquatic ecosystems. Dead organisms and animal wastes return phosphorus to the soil, to streams, and eventually to ocean floors as rock deposits. People disrupt the phosphorus cycle by mining large amounts of phosphate rock for fertilizers and detergents; and through runoff of such substances plus animal waste and sewage into aquatic ecosystems.