NUTRIENT CYCLES. GEOCHEMICAL CYCLES Movement of a particular form of matter through the living and...
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Transcript of NUTRIENT CYCLES. GEOCHEMICAL CYCLES Movement of a particular form of matter through the living and...
GEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Movement of a particular form of matter through the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Earth is a closed system…must continually recycle essential matter
(Matter is neither created nor destroyed)
THE CARBON CYCLE
Carbon is especially important to living systems because it is the key ingredient in all living organisms…Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids
PROCESSES IN THE CARBON CYCLE
Photosynthesis Respiration Decomposition of plants and
animals Conversion of biochemical
compounds
OTHER PROCESSES IN THE CARBON CYCLE
CombustionWhen wood or fossil fuels are burned, CO2 is released into the atmosphere
OTHER PROCESSES IN THE CARBON CYCLE
Weathering of carbonate rocksBones/shells fall to the bottom of
oceans/lakes & are incorporated into sedimentary rocks
When they decompose, Carbon is released into ocean, atmosphere
THE NITROGEN CYCLE
Why do we need nitrogen?Nitrogen is necessary for
organisms to make amino acids…
…which are needed to build proteins!!!
NITROGEN RESERVOIRS
In the atmosphere as elemental nitrogen (N2)78% of the air is N2 gas
In living organisms as proteins or nucleic acids
In organic materials that compose soil
PROCESSES IN THE NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN FIXATION:Nitrogen fixing bacteria-found
in soil, root nodules of plantsConvert elemental nitrogen into
forms that are available for use by plants
They “fix” it for the plants
PROCESSES IN THE NITROGEN CYCLE
NITROGEN INTAKE:Plants take in nitrogen through
root systems in the form of ammonia or nitrate
This is how nitrogen enters the food chain.
PROCESSES IN THE NITROGEN CYCLE
DECOMPOSITION:When an organism dies or
animals produce waste products
Decomposers return nitrogen to the soil
PROCESSES IN THE NITROGEN CYCLE
DENITRIFICATION:Denitrifying bacteria break
down nitrogen compounds in the soil
Release elemental nitrogen into the atmosphere
“De” undo, reverse
THE WATER CYCLEAKA: THE HYDROLOGIC
CYCLEWater is a necessary substance for the life processes of all living
organisms
THE WATER CYCLEAKA: THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
PRECIPITATION:The process in which water (in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail) falls from clouds in the sky.
THE WATER CYCLEAKA: THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
EVAPORATION:Water changing from a liquid to a gas
TRANSPIRATION:Evaporation of water from a plant’s leaves
THE WATER CYCLEAKA: THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE CONDENSATION:
Water vapor (a gas) in the air turns into liquid water. (Condensing water forms clouds in the sky.)
As water vapor condenses—impurities (such as dust) are removed from the atmosphere and fall to Earth with precipitation
THE WATER CYCLEAKA: THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
ACCUMULUATION: Water pools in large bodies
(oceans, seas and lakes). SEEPAGE:
Water entering the ground
THE WATER CYCLEAKA: THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE RUN-OFF:
As water travels through soil and rock, it is physically filtered of impurities (filtration)
Water flow slows—heavier particles settle out and purified water continues toward oceans
THE WATER CYCLEAKA: THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE Also remember…
Water is also returned to the environment during cellular respiration!
C6H1206 + O2 CO2 + ATP + H2O
O2-CO2 balance…plants need to produce enough O2
Oxygen produced by plants is also responsible for the ozone layer Prevents much of the Sun’s UV radiation from
reaching Earth’s surface
AMMONIA (NH3) is released through respiration & excretion
Ammonia is very deadly in high concentrations—so enough fish producing ammonia in a small space (like an aquarium)…will kill the fish.
Well, this doesn’t have to happen…
Bacteria present in an aquarium will feed on ammonia producing nitrites…another bacteria will feed on nitrites producing nitrates…
Nitrates are not nearly as harmful, and much, much easier to control. You would need OBSCENE amounts for it to do any real damage.