1. Biogeochemical Cycles

2. Energy Flows Through Ecosystem
Water—Nitrogen—Carbon—Phosphorus Are Recycled!
They Move Thru A Biogeochemical Cycle:
Abiotic (Non-living) Portion Of Environment (Atmosphere)  Living Thingsthen Back Again

3. Water Cycle Cells Contain 70-90% H20
Very Little Of Earths Available H20 Is In Living Things
Rivers / Lakes / Streams / Oceans Contain A Big %
Atmosphere Contain Water = Water Vapor
Ground Water = In Soil Or Underground In Porous Rock
Water Cycle = Movement Of H20 between Reservoirs
Evaporation
Transpiration
Precipitation

4. Evaporation transpiration
Adds H2O vapor to atmosphere
Heat causes water to evaporate
90% of evaporated water from terrestrial ecosystem passes through plants in a process called….
transpiration

5. Transpiration Plants take in H2O thru roots
Release water & take in CO2 (carbon dioxide)
Animals drink/ eat to take in H2O
Animals release it when:
Breathing
Sweating
Excretion

6. Precipitation Water leaves atmosphere
Temperature & air pressure (abiotic factors) determine how much water can be held
Once atmosphere is saturated w/vapor = snow, rain, sleet, hail or fog

7. Carbon Cycle Photosynthesis + cellular respiration
Photosynthesis = plants & other autotrophs use:
CO2 + H2O & sunlight = carbohydrates

8. CELLULAR RESPIRATION
Process in which autotrophs & heterotrophs use oxygen (O2) to breakdown carbs.
Cells make ATP (energy) by breaking down organic compounds
A compound that results from living things & contains carbon

9. HUMAN INFLUENCE ON THE CARBON CYCLE
In the past 150 years CO2 in the atmosphere has risen 30% almost ½ in the last 40 years
Due to human activity
Burning fossil fuel:
Remains of organisms
that have been transformed
by decay, heat, & pressure  Energy rich organic molecules

10. Burning releases energy & CO2
Burning vegetation releases CO2
Tropical rainforest destruction
With no plants CO2 is not absorbed

11. Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is needed to make proteins & nucleic acids:
Organic molecule, DNA or RNA, that stores & carries important info for cell function
N2 (nitrogen gas) makes up 78% of the atmosphere
N2 is however limited to ammonia (NH3)for most living things

13. NITROGEN FIXATION Conversion of N2 to ammonia
Certain bacteria can convert  NH3 =
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Live in soil & in
some roots

14. Recycling Nitrogen Bodies of dead organisms contain “N” Urine & dung
Decomposers break down corpses & waste of organisms give off nitrogen as ammonia = ammonification
Nitrification = bacteria in soil take in ammonia & oxidize it into nitrites, NO2 & nitrates, NO3
Back into the environment

16. DENITRIFICATION Returning nitrogen to atmosphere
Plants can absorb nitrates & ammonia from soil
Animals cannot!
Animals obtain it by eating other organisms
They digest the proteins & nucleic acids

17. Phosphorus Cycle
The phosphorus cycle may also be referred to as the mineral cycle.
Phosphorus is mainly found in water, soil, and rock.
Phosphorus is essential for life.
Component of DNA
Building block of our bones and teeth.

18. Phosphorus Cycle

19. Unlike the other cycles, phosphorus cannot be found in air in the gaseous state.
The phosphorus cycle is the SLOWEST cycle.
Phosphorus is most commonly found in rock formations and ocean sediments as phosphate salts.
Phosphate salts that are released from rocks through weathering usually dissolve in soil water and will be absorbed by plants.

20. Animals absorb phosphates by eating plants or plant-eating animals.
When animals and plants die, phosphates will return to the soils or oceans again during decomposition.
After that, phosphorus will end up in sediments or rock formations again, remaining there for millions of years. Eventually, phosphorus is released again through weathering and the cycle starts over.

21. Human Imapcts on the Phosphorus Cycle
Like nitrogen, increased use of fertilizers increases phosphorus runoff into our waterways.

22. REMEMBER THIS!!! Most phosphorus is found in rocks and soil.
The phosphorus cycle is the slowest cycle.
Excess phosphorus contributes to eutrophication.