1. Nutrient Cycles -Academic Water Cycle (pg.) 1. The movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land and living things is the water cycle. 2. Evaporation is the process by which molecules of liquid water (vapor) absorb heat energy and change to a gas. 3. Liquid water evaporates from oceans, lakes and other wet surfaces on the Earth. 4.The energy for evaporation comes from the heat of the sun. 5.Transpiration is the process of plants releasing water vapor from their leaves. 6.Condensation is the process by which a gas changes to a liquid. (water vapor cools as it rises)

2. 7. Precipitation is water that falls from the atmosphere to the land and oceans. Examples are rain, snow, sleet or hail. 8.Runoff is precipitation that falls on land and flows into streams and rivers. 9. Groundwater is precipitation that seeps into the ground and is stored underground in spaces between or within rocks. 10. Most precipitation falls back into oceans and lakes. Some may fall on land and either soak into the soil to become ground water or run off into rivers and oceans.

3. Oxygen & Carbon Cycles (pg.) 1. Carbon is an important building block in the bodies of organisms. All living things are made of carbon! Carbon is found in sugars which store the chemical energy organisms need to live. 2. 20% of our atmosphere is oxygen. 3. Carbon can be found in living things, the atmosphere (as CO 2 ), in water, rocks & soils and fossil fuels. 4. Producers release oxygen gas as product of photosynthesis. 5. Combustion is the burning of materials such as wood and fossil fuels. 6. Human activity (like burning) releases carbon dioxide, water, heat and other materials into the environment. It may also produce pollution.

4. 7.Producers take in carbon dioxide from the air (making it cleaner)and release oxygen back into the air for other organisms to use (for breathing!)

5. Nitrogen Cycle 1.Organisms need Nitrogen to build proteins and DNA for new cells. 2. 78% of our atmosphere is Nitrogen gas (free Nitrogen) Nitrogen that is not combined with other elements is “Free” nitrogen. 3. Most organisms can’t use free N. 4.Nitrogen fixation is the process of changing free Nitrogen into a useable form. 5.Most free nitrogen is “fixed” by certain kinds of bacteria in the soil. The Nitrogen is then used by plants. 6. Some nitrogen fixing bacteria live in the soil, some in the water, while others grow on special structures (nodule) on the roots of “legumes”. These plants include beans, clover, alfalfa, peas and peanuts)

6. 7. Consumers get the nitrogen they need by eating plants or other organisms. 8.Decomposition releases a form of Nitrogen into the soil that plants can use. 9.Certain bacteria in the soil convert (change) Nitrogen back to a gas which is returned to the atmosphere. 10. Nitrogen gas is converted into useable Nitrogen by bacteria and lightning. Plants take in the useable nitrogen. Consumers get the nitrogen they need from the organisms they eat.