Cycles in Nature

The Cycles of Matter

Three cycles that moves matter among the environment and living thingsWater cycleCarbon cycleNitrogen cycle

The Water Cycle – Let’s review

The Water Cycle

The movement of water among oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things.

Precipitation- water moving from atmosphere to landEx: rain, snow, sleet, hail91% falls into the ocean, 9% on land

renews fresh water supply

The Water Cycle

Evaporation- water moving from the land to the atmosphereThe sun’s heat causes water to change

from liquid to vapor

Condensation- water vapor becoming liquid again due to cool atmosphereTranspiration- water moving from living things back into the atmosphereEx: evaporation from leaves, perspiration

from humans

The Water Cycle

Ground Water- precipitation that seeps into the ground and is stored in underground caverns and porous rockProvides water for the soil, streams, rivers,

and oceans

Our water supply is not getting larger so we must protect our fresh water from pollution!!

The Water Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon from the environment into living things and back again

Carbon is essential to all living things because it is part of our molecules.

The Carbon Cycle

Photosynthesis- carbon moves from the environment into living thingsPlants use carbon dioxide from the air to

make sugarAnimals get carbon from eating plants

Respiration- carbon moves from living things back to the environmentSugar molecules are broken down to

release energy and carbon dioxide is given off when we exhale

The Carbon Cycle

Decomposition- carbon moving from dead organisms back to the environmentFungi and bacteria decompose dead

organisms

Combustion- the process of burning fuelBurning fossil fuels releases carbon back

into the atmosphere

The Carbon Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle

The Nitrogen CycleThe movement of nitrogen from the environment to living things and back again.78% of our atmosphere is nitrogen gas

Nitrogen fixation- the process of bacteria changing nitrogen gas into usable nitrogen for plantsAnimals get nitrogen from eating plants

Other bacteria decompose dead animals and animal waste and return nitrogen to the atmosphere

The Nitrogen Cycle

Dr. Destruction Comic Strips

You will be responsible for creating a comic strip featuring an evil villain who plans to destroy an ecosystem by interrupting one of the cycles that runs in an ecosystem.Choose one cycle from the following: Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle

Dr. Destruction Comic StripsThe comic strip must explain: The way the cycle works How the villain plans on disrupting the cycle What effects the villain’s interruptions will

have on the cycle What plan your superheroes have for

stopping the interruption

You will be graded on: Having all requirements in your comic strip Using color and creativity in the final product All members will be graded on the final

project with a participation grade added based on their involvement in the project.