Cycles of Matter Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is ______________.

Cycles of Matter

• Unlike the one-way flow of energy,

matter is ______________

Cycles of Matter

• Unlike the one-way flow of energy,

matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.

Cycles of Matter

• Biogeochemical cycles –

Cycles of Matter


Process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter

passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another

Cycles of Matter


Biological

Geological

Chemical

Cycles are all connected

The Water Cycle

• Evaporation -

The Water Cycle

• Evaporation – process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas

The Water Cycle


• Transpiration -

The Water Cycle


• Transpiration – process of water evaporating from the leaves of plants

The Water Cycle

• Evaporation and transpiration occur

The Water Cycle

• Evaporation and transpiration occur

• Sun heats the atmosphere

• Warm air rises, and eventually cools

The Water Cycle

• Sun heats the atmosphere

• Warm air rises, and eventually cools

• Water vapor condenses and forms clouds

The Water Cycle

• When large enough, water droplets return to Earth’s surface in form of precipitation – rain, snow sleet or hail

The Water Cycle

• When large enough, water droplets return to Earth’s surface in form of precipitation – rain, snow sleet or hail

• On land, water runs along surface until it enters stream, river, lake or ocean

The Water Cycle

• On land, water runs along surface until it enters stream, river, lake or ocean

• Some water also seeps into soil and becomes ground water

The Water Cycle

• Some water also seeps into soil and becomes ground water

• Some water in soil enters plants through the roots

The Water Cycle

• Some water in soil enters plants through the roots and

water cycle begins again

Nutrient Cycles

Nutrient Cycles

• Benefits -

Nutrient Cycles

• Benefits –– Every organism needs nutrients to build

tissues and carry out essential life functions

Nutrient Cycles

• Benefits –– Every organism needs nutrients to build

tissues and carry out essential life functions• Like water, nutrients are passed between

organisms and the environment through biogeochemical processes

Nutrient Cycles

• Benefits –– In many ecosystems, nutrients are in short

supply

Nutrient Cycles

• Benefits –– In many ecosystems, nutrients are in short

supply• Thus recycling nutrients is essential for the

ecosystem to keep functioning

Nutrient Cycles

• Benefits –– Nutrient cycling prevents many chemicals

from reaching concentrations that would otherwise be toxic or harmful to organisms

Nutrient Cycles

• Three cycles play especially prominent roles in the biosphere

Nutrient Cycles

• Three cycles play especially prominent roles in the biosphere– The carbon cycle

Nutrient Cycles

• Three cycles play especially prominent roles in the biosphere– The carbon cycle– The nitrogen cycle

Nutrient Cycles

• Three cycles play especially prominent roles in the biosphere– The carbon cycle– The nitrogen cycle– The phosphorus cycle

The Carbon Cycle

• There are four different kinds of processes involved in the carbon cycle

The Carbon Cycle


– Biological processes -

The Carbon Cycle


– Biological processes – photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition of plants and animals

The Carbon Cycle


– Geochemical processes -

The Carbon Cycle


– Geochemical processes – release of carbon dioxide to atmosphere by volcanoes

The Carbon Cycle


– Mixed biogeochemical processes -

The Carbon Cycle


– Mixed biogeochemical processes – burial of carbon-rich remains of organisms and their conversion into fossil fuels (coal and petroleum) by the pressure of overlying earth

The Carbon Cycle


– Human activity -

The Carbon Cycle


– Human activity – including mining, the burning of fossil fuels, and the cutting and burning of forests

The Carbon Cycle

• In the atmosphere, carbon is present as carbon dioxide.

CO2

CO2

The Carbon Cycle

• In the atmosphere, carbon is present as carbon dioxide.

• This carbon dioxide came from – Volcanic activity– Respiration– Burning of fossil fuels– Decomposition of

organic matter

CO2

CO2

The Carbon Cycle

• Plants take in carbon dioxide

CO2

CO2

The Carbon Cycle

• Plants take in carbon dioxide– The carbon is used to

build carbohydrates during photosynthesis

CO2

CO2

The Carbon Cycle

• The carbohydrates are passed along food webs to animals and other consumers

CO2

CO2

The Carbon Cycle

• In the ocean organisms use carbon to make calcium carbonate

CO2

CO2

The Carbon Cycle

• In the ocean organisms use carbon to make calcium carbonate– This calcium

carbonate accumulates in marine sediments and in the bones and shells of organisms

CO2

CO2

The Carbon Cycle

• These calcium carbonate compounds eventually break down and the carbon returns to the atmosphere

CO2

CO2

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen fixation -

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen fixation – process where nitrogen gas is converted to ammonia by bacteria found in roots of plants called legumes

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen required to make amino acids, which are used to build proteins.

N2

NH3

NO3-NO2-

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen required to make amino acids, which are used to build proteins.

• When organisms die, decomposers return nitrogen to the soil as ammonia

N2

NH3

NO3-NO2-

The Nitrogen Cycle

• nitrogen gas (N2) makes up 78% of atmosphere

N2

NH3

NO3-NO2-

The Nitrogen Cycle

• nitrogen gas (N2) makes up 78% of atmosphere

• Through nitrogen fixation, nitrogen gas converted to ammonia

N2

NH3

NO3-NO2-

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Ammonia (NH3), nitrate ions (NO3-), and nitrite ions(NO2-) are found in wastes produced by organisms

N2

NH3

NO3-NO2-

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Ammonia (NH3), nitrate ions (NO3-), and nitrite ions(NO2-) are found in wastes produced by organisms

• These compounds taken up by producers to make proteins

N2

NH3

NO3-NO2-

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas in process called denitrification

N2

NH3

NO3-NO2-

The Phosphorous Cycle

• Important to living organisms because it forms part of DNA and RNA



• Not very common in biosphere




• Does not enter atmosphere




• Does not enter atmosphere– Instead it remains mostly on land in rock and

soil minerals, and in ocean sediments


• Does not enter atmosphere– Instead it remains mostly on land in rock and

soil minerals, and in ocean sediments– As rocks wear down, phosphate is released


• Does not enter atmosphere– Instead it remains mostly on land in rock and soil

minerals, and in ocean sediments– As rocks wear down, phosphate is released– It is released into streams and rivers and eventually

makes its way to the ocean and is used by marine organisms

– On land it is absorbed by plants and passes up through the food chain

Nutrient Limitation

• Primary productivity -

Nutrient Limitation

• Primary productivity – rate at which organic matter is created by producers.

Nutrient Limitation

• Limiting nutrient – single nutrient that either is scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms in an ecosystem

Nutrient Limitation

• Limiting nutrient – single nutrient that either is scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms in an ecosystem– Examples –

• farmers add fertilizers that contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to their crops

Nutrient Limitation

• Limiting nutrient – single nutrient that either is scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms in an ecosystem– Examples –

• farmers add fertilizers that contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to their crops

• In freshwater aquatic environment, phosphorus is usually the limiting nutrient

Nutrient limitation

• Algal bloom -

Nutrient limitation

• Algal bloom – immediate increase in the amount of algae and other producers that results from a large input of a limiting nutrient

Nutrient limitation

• Algal bloom – immediate increase in the amount of algae and other producers that results from a large input of a limiting nutrient– Often results when runoff from heavily

fertilized fields increases amount of limiting nutrient

Cycles of Matter Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is ______________.

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