The Carbon Cycle briefly:The Carbon Cycle briefly:

Has Has stores of carbonstores of carbon which hold the carbon which hold the carbon– AtmosphereAtmosphere– Soil and lithosphere (fossil fuels)Soil and lithosphere (fossil fuels)– VegetationVegetation– OceansOceans

Carbon is TRANSFERRED between storesCarbon is TRANSFERRED between stores– By respiration and photosynthesisBy respiration and photosynthesis– Plants are eaten and diePlants are eaten and die– DecomposersDecomposers– Burning of fossil fuels Burning of fossil fuels

Nutrient cyclingNutrient cycling

Key terms:Key terms:

Nutrient cycleNutrient cycleBiomassBiomassSoilSoilLitterLitter

April 12, 2023

Recycling of nutrientsRecycling of nutrients

Ecosystems cycle nutrientd as well as Ecosystems cycle nutrientd as well as transferring food energytransferring food energy

Two types:Two types:– Micronutrients e.g. sulphur, magnesiumMicronutrients e.g. sulphur, magnesium– Macronutrients e.g. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen Macronutrients e.g. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen

and nitrogenand nitrogen

Sources of nutrients…Sources of nutrients…

RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTSRECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS

LITTERSurface layer of

vegetation

LITTERSurface layer of

vegetation

BIOMASS Weight of living

material

BIOMASS Weight of living

material

SOILSOIL

Additional nutrients added by weathering of parent rock

Trees and organisms die

Plants take up nutrients

Some nutrients lost due to leaching

Decomposition of plants and leaves releases nutrients

The Nutrient Cycle

The rainforest/ The rainforest/ selvas nutrient selvas nutrient

ecosystemecosystemBiomass-trees and

plants

Litter Soil

Gain from precipitation

Gain from weathering

Loss from leaching

A carboniferous tropical rainforest is an

evergreen forest – leaves grow all year

Runoff

Steppe and prairie Steppe and prairie grasslandsgrasslands

B

LS

Gain from precipitation

Gain from weathering

Loss from leaching

Runoff

Northern coniferous Northern coniferous forest (Taiga)forest (Taiga)

B

L S

Gain from precipitation

Gain from weathering

Loss from leaching

Runoff

Factors influencing the stores and

transfers of nutrients

HomeworkHomework

Complete a written comparison of the Complete a written comparison of the selvas (tropical rainforest) nutrient selvas (tropical rainforest) nutrient cycle, the prairie nutrient cycle and cycle, the prairie nutrient cycle and the taiga nutrient cycle.the taiga nutrient cycle.