Cycles of Matter What are our 4 main biological elements that make up living things??? H, O, N, C Other elements we find… Sulfur and Phosphorus (REMEMBER: CHNOPS) These elements make up the basis of what compounds??? Water, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids, & Proteins

In other words, a handful of elements combine to form the building blocks of all known organisms – however, organisms cannot manufacture these elements and do not ‘use them up’ – you may wonder where these essential elements come from and how their availability affects ecosystems.

Energy and matter Earth – a lot of energy on earth is in the form of sunlight entering the biosphere. BUT earth does NOT receive a steady supply of new matter from space. Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems. Nutrients are recycled through biogeochemical cycles. These cycles are powered by the one-way flow of energy through the biosphere.

Biogeochemical Cycle Definition: Process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another As matter moves through these cycles it is transformed which means that it is never created or destroyed, just changed. Many classifications for these cycles…

Biological Processes Any and all activities performed by living organisms Examples: eating, breathing, burning food, eliminating waste Geological Processes Volcanic eruptions Formation & breakdown of rock Major movements of matter within and below the surface of the earth

Chemical/Physical Processes Formation of Clouds and precipitation Flow of running water Lightening Human Activity Mining Burning of Fossil Fuels Clearing of land for building/farming Burning forests Manufacturing Use of fertilizers

The Water cycle h2O

The water Cycle Water continuously moves between Oceans The Atmosphere Land Sometimes outside living organisms and sometimes inside them… Water (H2O) is one of the few substances that occurs commonly in all 3 states on Earth. Solid, Liquid, Gas

How does Water Vapor (Gas) enter the atmosphere?!? Water turns to a gas by… Evaporation Evaporating from the ocean or other bodies of water. Transpiration Evaporating from the leaves of plants Combustion Burning of fuels  produces water (& CO2) Respiration Cellular respiration by ALL organisms produces water (& CO2)

Once water vapor is in the atmosphere, winds can transport it over great distances… Four main ways

Condensation Runoff Precipitation Groundwater When water vapor cools, the vapor condenses into tiny droplets (liquid) that form clouds. On land, some precipitation flows along the surface, in what is called ‘runoff,’ until it enters a river/stream that carries it to an ocean/lake. Precipitation Groundwater When the droplets of water in clouds become large enough, they fall to the Earth’s surface as precipitation in the form of: Precipitation can also be absorbed into the soil and then it is called groundwater which can enter plants through their roots, or flow into rivers/streams/lakes/oceans. Some can even become part of underground reservoir Rain Snow Sleet Hail

The water cycle Condensation Evaporation Precipitation Runoff Groundwater

Chemical substances that an organism needs to survive Nutrient cycles Chemical substances that an organism needs to survive

Why does every organism need nutrients? It’s obvious guys… TO LIVE LIFE!  Carry out life processes TO BUILD TISSUES

Like water, nutrients pass through organisms and the environment through biogeochemical cycles THREE of these that are especially critical for life are cycles that move carbon and nitrogen and phosphorus through the biosphere.

What is the role of Oxygen in the common biogeochemical cycles on earth? By combining with these elements and cycling them through parts of their journeys. It is a product of photosynthesis and is used in cellular respiration by most organisms

The carbon cycle

The carbon cycle Carbon is a major component of all organic compounds. Important in SOME inorganic compounds such as: Calcium Carbonate CaCO3 Part of different kinds of animal skeletons Carbon Dioxide CO2 Major part of the atmosphere & necessary for photosynthesis

Flashback question --Nonrenewable or Renewable Resource??? Fossil fuels Some carbon containing compounds that were once part of ancient forests, marine organisms, or other animals have been buried/transformed into energy-rich fuels such as … Coal Oil Natural Gas Flashback question --Nonrenewable or Renewable Resource???

Major reservoirs of carbon in the biosphere include… Atmosphere Oceans Rocks Fossil Fuels Forests

The carbon cycle Carbon dioxide is continuously exchanged between the atmosphere and oceans through chemical and physical processes. Plants take in CO2 during photosynthesis and use the carbon to build carbohydrates. These nutrients then pass through food webs to consumers Many animals combine carbon with calcium and oxygen as they build their skeletons. Organisms release carbon in the form of CO2 gas by respiration

The carbon cycle When organisms die, decomposers break down the bodies, releasing carbon to the environment. Geologic forces can turn accumulated carbon into carbon-containing rocks or fossil fuels. CO2 is released into the atmosphere by: Volcanic Activity Human Activity such as: the burning of fossil fuels and the clearing and burning of forests.

What role do you think Decomposers Carbon & Oxygen in the biosphere? play in the cycling of Carbon & Oxygen in the biosphere? Decomposers USE oxygen and PRODUCE carbon dioxide. They help recycle Carbon and Oxygen by returning these elements to the biosphere so that they are available for organisms to use again.

The Carbon Cycle

Fill in the blanks! Carbohydrates Decomposers Photosynthesis Respiration • Plants take in CO2 during _____________________ and use the carbon to build macromolecules like ________________ . These nutrients then pass through food webs to consumers. • Organisms release carbon in the form of CO2 gas by _____________________ • When organisms die__________________ break down the bodies, releasing carbon to the environment.

The Nitrogen cycle

Many different forms of nitrogen occur naturally in the biosphere. All organisms require NITROGEN to build amino acids and nucleic acids so that organisms can build DNA, RNA and proteins.  Many different forms of nitrogen occur naturally in the biosphere. Nitrogen gas Makes up 78% of earth’s atmosphere Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite Ions: Found in soil, in the wastes produced by many organisms, and in dead and decaying organic matter. Dissolved nitrogen: Exists in several forms in the ocean and other large water bodies

Bacteria Although nitrogen gas is the most abundant form of nitrogen on Earth, only a handful of organisms – certain types of bacteria – can use this form directly. Because they “lock” (=fix) the nitrogen into usable forms, these nitrogen-fixing bacteria are an essential part of the nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen Fixation In this process, certain types of bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia. Some of these bacteria live in the soil whereas others live on the roots of certain plants called legumes Ex: peanuts, peas, soybeans

Then, other bacteria convert that fixed nitrogen into nitrates and nitrites. Once these forms of nitrogen are available, primary producers can use them to make proteins & nucleic acids Consumers eat the producers and reuse nitrogen to make their own nitrogen-containing compounds. Decomposers release nitrogen from waste and dead organisms as ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites that producers may take up again.

Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation Denitrification Other bacteria obtain energy by converting Nitrates into Nitrogen Gas, which is then released into the atmosphere. Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation A relatively small amount of nitrogen gas is converted to usable forms by lightning

How do humans add Nitrogen to the Biosphere? THINK! How do humans add Nitrogen to the Biosphere?   Through the manufacture & use of fertilizers. Excess fertilizer is often carried into surface water or groundwater by precipitation.