TODAY WE’LL STUDY HOW MATTER IS

RECYCLED IN THE

ENVIRONMENTOur unit on Ecology continues…

Part 2

.

BIOSPHERE The combined portions of the planet in

which all life exists, including land, water, air and the atmosphere. Interactions within this atmosphere produce

a web of interdependence between organisms and their environment.

4 major parts of the biosphere are: Atmosphere- sky Ecosphere-land & animals Lithosphere-rock hydrosphere-water

TAKE A LOOK AT THE 4 PARTS OF OUR BIOSPHERE

ENERGY CYCLES Energy flows through the living and

nonliving components of the ecosystem. Energy is transferred from the

Sun or chemicals to autotrophs (producers). Plants make energy for life and then transfers energy to the heterotrophs/consumers when they are eaten

Consumers transfer energy to other consumers and return it to the environment to be recycled again

THE FLOW OF ENERGY THROUGH AN ECOSYSTEM

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLESAs energy and matter flow through an

ecosystem, matter must be recycled and reused.

Substances such as water, carbon, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus each pass between the living and nonliving worlds through biogeochemical cycles. (Bio-life, geo-earth, chemical-nutrients, cycle-loop)

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES OF MATTER“MATTER CAN’T BE CREATED NOR DESTROYED… ONLY TRANSFORMED…

Water cycle Carbon Cycle Nitrogen cycle Phosphorous cycle

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

How matter is recycled in an ecosystem

Chapter 18

WATER CYCLE

WATER CYCLE

All living things require water to survive. Water moves between the ocean,

atmosphere and land. The water cycle starts from the ground, is

up taken by plants, moves to the atmosphere via transpiration, as warm air rises it cools and condenses to clouds, then finally it returns to the earth.

EVAPORATION Evaporation – the process that

changes water from a liquid form to an atmospheric gas.

Ex. As water is heated on the surface by the sun it turns into water vapor in the atmosphere.

TRANSPIRATION

Transpiration – water enters the atmosphere by evaporating from the leaves of plants.

PRECIPITATION The process of water returning to the

earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet, and snow.

The annual precipitation from biome to biome varies and greatly influences the type of plants and animals that live in the area.

CLOSE LOOK AT THE WATER CYCLE

THE CARBON CYCLE Carbon is the key ingredient in all living

systems. Carbon dioxide is released into the

atmosphere by cellular respiration. Plants take in carbon dioxide and use it to

build carbohydrates (simple sugars like glucose) during photosynthesis.

Carbon in carbohydrates is passed along the food chain to animals and other consumers.

THERE ARE THREE MAJOR SOURCES WHICH REPLENISH THE CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE. The atmosphere is full of carbon in the

form of carbon dioxide. (CO2)

1. Combustion- burning of fossil fuels which breaks the carbon rich bonds and releases them in the atmosphere

2. Cellular respiration- animals exhale carbon as carbon dioxide

3. Decomposers put carbon into the atmosphere as they break down matter and release CO2 (But they return it to the soil as well.)

2 MAJOR WAYS CARBON IS PUT BACK INTO THE EARTH/LIVING SYSTEMS

Photosynthesis- Plants take in the carbon from the CO2 in atmosphere for making carbon rich sugars, which is later transferred to animals that eat the plants

Decomposition- decomposers break down dead matter and return the carbon molecules to the soil. Over long time spans, this carbon is stored as fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

CARBON CYCLE

THE NITROGEN CYCLE Organisms require nitrogen to make

amino acids and build proteins. Nitrogen gas (N2) makes up 78% of the

earth’s atmosphere. Bacteria are VERY important for the

nitrogen cycle because they add hydrogen atoms (making NH3=ammonia) to the unusable nitrogen gas (N2), which allows plants and animals to uptake it.

STEPS OF THE NITROGEN CYCLE1. Certain bacteria in the soil can fix

nitrogen (turn it into ammonia NH3) which is later changed by other bacteria to form nitrates and nitrites so plants can uptake it.

2. Plants (Producers) use these compounds to make proteins.

3. Consumers eat the producers and reuse the nitrogen by converting it into proteins.

4. When organisms die, nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil return the nitrogen to the soil as ammonia to be recycled.

NITROGEN CYCLE

Section 4: Ecosystem Recycling

PHOSPHORUS CYCLE Phosphorus is necessary for organisms to form bones,

teeth, and important molecules like DNA and RNA. It is found mostly in the ocean, soil and rocks.

1. When rocks erode, small amounts of phosphorous dissolve as Phosphate (PO4

3-) in soil and water.

2. Plants absorb phosphorus in the soil through their roots, and it can be added back when the excess phosphorous is excreted in wastes from organisms or when they die and decompose.

3. Organic phosphate moves through the food cycle, from producers to consumers.

4. Phosphorus RARELY occurs as a GAS, so it doesn’t normally enter the atmosphere.

CYCLES OF MATTER Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter

is recycled within and between ecosystems. Biogeochemical cycles pass the same

molecules around again and again within the biosphere.Biological systems do not use up matter, they

transform it.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT The insulating effect of the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, methane and water

vapor trap heat energy and maintain the Earth’s temperature range.

Assignment:Biogeochemical Cycle Booklet -250 points You will draw or trace the pictures in

your text for the following cycles: Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle

For each cycle DRAW & COLOR above, you will write each labeled process in your book and explain the process.

Ex. Precipitation- is the process of water falling to the earth in the form of rain,

sleet, hail, or snow.