1. Nutrient Cycles Environmental Science

2. A Generalized Cycle Materials often move between the regions of the earth- - Atmosphere - Hydrosphere - Lithosphere - Ecosphere

3. Cycle Terminology Reservoirs: areas where things are stored; things can move in and out Reservoirs: areas where things are stored; things can move in and out Sinks: areas where materials are stored over long periods of time and in large quantities Sinks: areas where materials are stored over long periods of time and in large quantities Fluxes: processes that move materials Fluxes: processes that move materials

4. Carbon Importance: Life on Earth is carbon based- we are made of molecules that contain carbon. Importance: Life on Earth is carbon based- we are made of molecules that contain carbon. Every cell in your body contains carbon! Every cell in your body contains carbon!

5. The Carbon Cycle Reservoirs: Ecosphere- Tissues of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc. Lithosphere- top soil Atmosphere Hydrosphere

6. The Carbon Cycle Sinks: - Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) - Rock- limestone

7. The Carbon Cycle Fluxes: - Photosynthesis - Respiration - Burning fossil fuels - Burning trees - Decomposition - Consumers

8. Short Cycle Atmosphere to Plants via photosynthesis 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O -> C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 Plants to Animals via eating or consumption Animals to Atmosphere via respiration C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 -> 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O

9. Long Cycle Atmosphere to Plants via photosynthesis 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O -> C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 Plants to Animals via eating or consumption Animals & Plants to Earth via decomposition Earth to Fossil Fuels via compaction + millions of years! Fossil Fuels to Atmosphere via burning

10. The Carbon Cycle Human Impact: Humans have increased the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels and wood.

11. Nitrogen Importance: nitrogen is needed to make many compounds found in the body Importance: nitrogen is needed to make many compounds found in the body DNA DNA Protein Protein Enzymes Enzymes

12. The Nitrogen Cycle Reservoirs/Sinks: Reservoirs/Sinks: Atmosphere (78% N 2 gas, but we can’t use it!) Ecosphere (tissues of living things)

13. The Nitrogen Cycle Fluxes Fluxes Bacteria perform many processes in the nitrogen cycle (nitrogen fixation, ammonification, denitrification, decomposition). Lightning Consumers

14. Fixation Fixation Taking N2 (gas) in the atmosphere and making it available in the soil Taking N2 (gas) in the atmosphere and making it available in the soil Bacteria! Bacteria!

15. Ammonification Ammonification Taking elemental N2 in the soil and turning it into as NH4+ Ammonium Taking elemental N2 in the soil and turning it into as NH4+ Ammonium Nitrogen fixing bacteria Nitrogen fixing bacteria

16. Nitrification Nitrification Taking Ammonium NH4+ and turning it into Nitrates NO2- then into Nitrites NO3- Taking Ammonium NH4+ and turning it into Nitrates NO2- then into Nitrites NO3- This is usable by plants! This is usable by plants! Done by two different types of bacteria Done by two different types of bacteria

17. Denitrification Denitrification Takes NO3- (nitrate) and turns back into gas N2 Takes NO3- (nitrate) and turns back into gas N2 Bacteria Bacteria

18. Assimilation Assimilation Plants and animals take in the nitrogen and convert it into the amino acids and DNA they need and use Plants and animals take in the nitrogen and convert it into the amino acids and DNA they need and use Plants and animals Plants and animals

19. Ammonification Ammonification Taking organic nitrogen from decomposing plants and animals or animal waste and turning into Ammonium NH4+ Taking organic nitrogen from decomposing plants and animals or animal waste and turning into Ammonium NH4+ Bacteria, of course Bacteria, of course

20. The Nitrogen Cycle Our Impact: Our Impact: The Haber-Bosch Process removes N 2 from the atmosphere and use it to make fertilizer.

21. Potassium Importance: It is a mineral that is needed for muscle growth and for the normal function of cells and tissues. Importance: It is a mineral that is needed for muscle growth and for the normal function of cells and tissues.

22. Potassium Cycle Reservoirs/sinks : Reservoirs/sinks : Lithosphere: Mineral deposits and surface soil Ecosphere: Tissues of living things

23. Potassium Cycle Fluxes: Fluxes: Weathering Uptake by plants Decomposition Consumers

24. Phosphorus Importance: needed for many biological compounds such as DNA and for bone formation. Importance: needed for many biological compounds such as DNA and for bone formation.

25. Phosphorus Cycle Reservoirs/Sinks: Reservoirs/Sinks: Lithosphere: Earth’s crust and top soil Ecosphere: tissue of living things

26. Phosphorus Cycle Fluxes: Fluxes: Decomposers Consumers Weathering of rocks

27. Phosphorus Cycle Human Impact:Run- off from farms contains high levels of phosphorus which make their way into streams, rivers, etc. Human Impact:Run- off from farms contains high levels of phosphorus which make their way into streams, rivers, etc.

28. Too much of a good thing: Eutrophication: build-up of too many nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus in a body of water. Eutrophication: build-up of too many nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus in a body of water. Excess nutrients cause excessive algae growth. Excess nutrients cause excessive algae growth. The algae blocks sunlight from reaching the bottom, causing other algae to die. The algae blocks sunlight from reaching the bottom, causing other algae to die. Bacteria populations increase and feed off of the dead algae and use up all the oxygen in the water. Bacteria populations increase and feed off of the dead algae and use up all the oxygen in the water. Low oxygen levels cause other aquatic organisms to die to leave the area. Low oxygen levels cause other aquatic organisms to die to leave the area.

29. Eutrophication

30. Eutrophication