1. Press the F5 button on the keyboard to start this tutorial

2. The Phosphorus Cycle Start from the beginning Make it Rain! The Producers The Consumers The Decomposers The Quiz The Human Factor

3. Why is Phosphorus Important? DNA molecules are made from three smaller molecules: (1)Sugar (2)Nitrogen base (3)??? What is the 3 rd molecule of DNA? Fatty acid Phosphate group Mono- saccharide No. Fatty acids are in lipids. No. Monosaccharaides are in carbohydrates. correct BackHome

4. Why is Phosphorus Important? ATP is a molecule needed by cells for _______. ATP stands for Adenosine Tri________? EnergyFood Releasing CO2 prokaryote Poly- saccharide phosphate Hint: What does the mitochondria create? correct Which choice looks like “phosphorus?” correct BackHome

5. Why is Phosphorus Important? Which part of a cell is semi-permeable and allows some materials to enter/exit the cell? The cell membrane is made from a double layer of lipids called “phospholipids.” Which element is implied by the prefix “phospho?” Mito- chondria Cell membrane Rough ER PhosphorusPotassiumPlutonium glucose waste correct Hint: What does the mitochondria create? Phospho…cmon! BackHome

6. Why is Phosphorus Important? Our cells need phospholipids, DNA, and ATP. They each have phosphorus in them. So where does the phosphorus come from? Phosphorus come from rocks. Rocks are solid lumps of minerals, and some of those minerals are phosphorus. So when rocks crumble and erode, phosphorus is released from the rocks. The weather causes rocks to crumble. Wind, cold, and rain cause dust sized fragments of rocks to chip off, thus releasing phosphorus into the ground BackHome

7. Make it Rain! The weather causes phosphorus to be released from rocks. Click the cloud to make it rain. Small bits of phosphorus are released into the ecosystem due to the weather. Click the cloud to make it stop raining. Now that there is phosphorus in the soil, click on the land organism that can absorb it through their roots. PPPP P P Snails don’t have roots. Roots… think roots BackHome

8. The Producers Of course! Plants simply absorb the phosphorus through their roots. Click on the roots to proceed. Now that plants have phosphorus they can use it to make their DNA, ATP, and phospholipids. Click on the herbivore (primary consumer) in the diagram. P P P P P P Decomposers feed on the dead. This plant is alive. BackHome

9. The Consumers Of course! The snail is an herbivore so it eats the plant. This is how animals get the phosphorus to make their DNA, ATP, and phospholipids. Phosphorus simply moves up the food chain. Which organism would likely eat snails? P P P P P P P P P Maybe accidentally, but cows are herbivores too. Wolves are hunters. I don’t think they would hunt snails. BackHome

10. Up the Food Chain The snail eats the plant… The frog eats the snail… Which would likely eat the frog? You got it. Phosphorus moves up the food chain. P P I’m an herbivore. P BackHome

11. The Decomposers This whole thing started with crumbling rocks…remember? Decomposers are organisms such as mushrooms and bacteria. They have DNA, ATP, and phospholipids also, so that means they need phosphorus too. Will decomposers feed on dead plants? You got it. Will they feed on dead snails? We’re almost done. PP P P P P P P P yesno P yesno Like any organism, decomposers make waste. They release their waste into the ecosystem. Some of their waste even contains phosphorus. P Examine the picture… if decomposers release phosphorus into the soil, which organism can reuse the phosphorus? The plants The rocks The snails I hope you see why it’s called the phosphorus cycle. Rocks aren’t organisms What do snails eat? BackHome

12. 1. Which molecule does not contain phosphorus? 2. How does phosphorus get into the soil in the first place? 3. Where do herbivores get phosphorus from? 4. Where do carnivores get phosphorus from? 5. Where do decomposers get phosphorus from? The Quiz DNAATPCarbohydratePhospholipid From rocks From decomposers From consumers From producers From rocks From decomposers From consumers From producers From rocks From decomposers From consumers From producers From any dead organism From decomposers only From consumers only From producers only BackHome

13. The Human Factor Sadly, human actions are disrupting the phosphorus cycle. Humans, like this farmer, routinely add extra phosphorus to soil because phosphorus is a fertilizer. What do you think the extra phosphorus does for the farmer’s crops? P P P P P PPP P PP Kill weedsKill bugsStimulates growth No. Weed killer kills weeds. No. Pesticides kill bugs. Yes, exactly! So if phosphorus helps crops grow, why is this bad? BackHome

14. Why is this Bad? The extra phosphorus is intended to help crops grow better, but often the phosphorus is washed away into rivers, lakes, and ponds when it rains. P P P P P P P The extra phosphorus got washed away and is collecting in this pond. Since the phosphorus is a fertilizer, it causes algae in the pond to grow at an extreme rate. These extreme algae growths are called “algal blooms.” As the algae eventually die, the decaying process uses up the oxygen in the pond, thus all the fish die. Once the fish die, so does the rest of the ecosystem. Make it rain Rain Rain Go Away BackHome

15. Wanna go for a swim? BackHome

16. Wanna go for a swim? BackHome

17. Wanna go for a swim? BackHome

18. You can help stop this problem. Purchasing organic food supports farmers who do NOT use extra fertilizers. Is There Any Hope? BackHome

19. You can help stop this problem. Purchasing organic food supports farmers who do NOT use extra fertilizers. Not using fertilizers in your home garden prevents the spread of excess phosphorus. Is There Any Hope? BackHome

20. You can help stop this problem. Purchasing organic food supports farmers who do NOT use extra fertilizers. Not using fertilizers in your home garden prevents the spread of excess phosphorus. Often, produce sold at a farmer’s market is organic. The Beverly Hills Farmer’s Market is every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Is There Any Hope? BackHome

21. The End BackHome