NUTRIENT CYCLING AND POLLUTIONGROUP 2

Pattern of nutrient transfer

Ecosystems maintain themselves by cycling energy and nutrients obtained from external sources.

1 )First trophic level (primary producer)• use solar energy to produce organic plant

material through photosynthesis • plants, algae, and some bacteria 2 )Second trophic level• Animals that feed solely on plants• herbivours animal3 )Third trophic level• predator that eat herbivores• tiger, lions4 )Decomposers • break down wastes and dead organisms and

return nutrient to the soil• bacteria, fungi, molds, worms and insect

• On average about 10 percent of net energy production at one trophic level is passed on to the next level.

• Processes that reduce the energy transferred between trophic levels include respiration, growth and reproduction, defecation, and nonpredatory death.

• Decomposers process large amounts of organic material and return nutrients to the ecosystem in inorganic form, which are then taken up again by primary producers.

• Energy is not recycled during decomposition, but rather is released, mostly as heat (this is what makes compost piles and fresh garden mulch warm).

RELATION BETWEEN PATTERN OF NUTRIENT TRANSFER WITH POLLUTION

Nutrient pollution is also called nutrient over-enrichment because both N and P are vital to plant growth.

Both N and P contributes to the degradation of coastal rivers, bays and seas.

Nutrient over-enrichment has a range of effects on coastal systems, but in general, it brings on ecological changes that decrease the biological diversity ,the variety of living organisms and the ecosystem.

RELATIONSHIP

EUTROPHICATION- oxygen depletion

- human shellfish poisonings and even marine mammal

deaths.

- loss of light from reduced water clarity

increased populations of economically valuable fishes

-increased by nutrient inputs, other valued

attributes such as biological diversity may decline.

THE CARBON CYCLE

What Is Carbon?• An element

• The basis of life of earth

• Found in rocks, oceans, atmosphere

Carbon Cycle• The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on

earth. They cycle between the earth and the atmosphere.

Carbon is released into the atmosphere in several ways

• Respiration by plants and animals.

• Decay of animal and plant matter.

• Combustion of organic material

• Production of cement.

• The ocean releases CO2 into the atmosphere. • Volcanic eruptions and metamorphism

Carbon is taken from the atmosphere in several ways

• Photosynthesis. • The oceans when the seawater becomes cooler,

more CO2 dissolve and become carbonic acid.

• In the upper ocean areas organisms convert reduced carbon to tissues, or carbonates.

Carbon Cycle DiagramCarbon in Atmosphere

Plants use carbon to make food

Animals eat plants and take in carbon

Plants and animals die

Decomposers break down dead

things, releasing carbon to

atmosphere andsoil

Bodies not decomposed — after many

years, become part of oil or coal deposits

Fossil fuels are burned; carbon is returned to atmosphere

Carbon slowly released from

these substances returns to atmosphere

The Carbon Cycle

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT

MAN-MADE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Keeps the Earth's climate warm and

habitable.

Enhancement of Earth's natural

greenhouse effect by the addition of

greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels (mainly

petroleum, coal, and natural gas). 

CAUSES OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT Deforestation

Increases amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Photosynthesis cannot take place Burning of fossils

Increases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane

Uses of electrical appliances Releases greenhouse gases

Population growth Causes the needs and wants of people to

increase The increase in industrial processes results in

increased greenhouse gases

CONSEQUENCES OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT More drought and flooding

Evaporation rate increases as weather becomes warmer and causes drought

Extra water vapour in atmosphere falls as rain and cause flood

More extreme weather incidents The warmer climate causes more rain and

storms Less ice and snow

Ice glaciers melt faster Rise in sea level

Melting ice and snow causes sea level to rise

WAYS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Limit energy consumptionLimit wastes and disposal Plant more trees

NITROGEN CYCLE

ADILAH

FATIN

&

Nitrogen (N) is an essential component of DNA, RNA, and proteins, the building blocks of life.

All organisms require nitrogen to live and grow.

The majority (78%) of the Earth’s atmosphere is N2

The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms.

This transformation can be carried out through both biological and physical processes.

Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification.

Nitrogen fixationNH3 OR NH4+

A process by which nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is converted into ammonium (NH3)

High-energy events to break the bond N2

Molecular nitrogen (N2) is relatively inert it does not easily react with other chemicals to form new compoundsThe fixation process frees up the

nitrogen atoms from their diatomic form (N2) to be used in other ways

Natural and synthetic, is essential for all forms of life because nitrogen is required to biosynthesize basic building blocks of plants, animals and other life forms.

Most fixation is done by free-living bacteria that have nitrogenase enzyme, combines gaseous nitrogen with hydrogen to produce ammonia

An example of mutualistic nitrogen fixing bacteria are the Rhizobium bacteria, which live in legume root nodules. These species are diazotrophs. An example of the free-living bacteria is Azotobacter.

Ammonification organic N --> NH4+

Nitrogen enters the soil through the decomposition of protein in dead organic matter

This process liberates a lot of energy which can be used by the saprotrophic microbes

Done by decomposers (bacteria, fungi)During this process, a significant

amount of the nitrogen contained within the dead organism is converted to ammonium (NH4+).

Nitrification This involves two oxidation processesThe ammonia produced by ammonification is an

energy rich substrate for Nitrosomas bacteriaThey oxidise it to nitrite:NH3 + 11/2O2 NO2- + H2O + 276kJ

This in turn provides a substrate for Nitrobacter bacteria oxidise the nitrite to nitrate:

NO3- + 1/2O2 NO3- + 73 kJ

This energy is the only source of energy for these prokaryotes

They are chemoautotrophs

Denitrification NO3- --> N2

(Denitrifying) Bacteria do it. Pseudomonas bacteria

Denitrification removes nitrogen from ecosystems, and converts it back to atmospheric N2

The liberated oxygen is used as an electron acceptor in the processes that oxidise organic molecules, such as glucose

These microbes are, therefore, heterotrophs

Nitrogen uptakeThe ammonia (NH3) produced by nitrogen-

fixing bacteria is usually quickly incorporated into protein and other organic nitrogen compounds (organisms!).

It’s either absorbed by a plant, by the bacteria itself, or by another soil organism.

Organisms at the top of the food chain (like us!) eat and grow, uptaking nitrogen (that has already been fixed).

Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle

• It is in these rocks where the phosphorus cycle begins. • When it rains, phosphates are removed from the rocks

(via weathering) and are distributed throughout both soils and water.

• Plants take up the phosphate ions from the soil. • The phosphates then moves from plants to animals

when herbivores eat plants and carnivores eat plants or herbivores.

• The phosphates absorbed by animal tissue through consumption eventually returns to the soil through the excretion of urine and feces

Phosphorus Cycle - in aquatic ecosystem-

• Phosphorus is not highly soluble, therefore it mostly reaches waters by traveling with runoff soil particles.

• As sediments are stirred up, phosphates may reenter the phosphorus cycle, but they are more commonly made available to aquatic organisms by being exposed through erosion.

• Water plants take up the waterborne phosphate which then travels up through successive stages of the aquatic food chain.

• Phosphate stimulates the growth of plankton and plants• Excess growth of these plants tend to consume large

amounts of dissolved oxygen, potentially suffocating fish and other marine animals, also blocking available sunlight to bottom dwelling species

INTERACTION BETWEEN THE NUTRIENT CYCLE

IMPORTANCE OF NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY

WHAT IS NUTRIENT?

Nutrient are the chemical elements and compound needed for organism to grow and

function.

IMPORTANCE OF PHOSPHORUS

IMPORTANCE OF PHOSPHORUS

Most fundamental plant process (flowering, root growth). Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), energy currency driving biochemical processes. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), seat of genetic inheritance. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) directs protein synthesis.Apatite, calcium phosphate in bones and teeth.

PHOSPHORUS EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT

TOO LITTLE PHOSPHORUS

TOO MUCH PHOSPHORUS Eutrophication

Land degradation

IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN

WHY IS NITROGEN IMPORTANT TO LIFE?

• Plants and animals could not live without nitrogen. • It is an important part of many cells and processes such as amino acids, proteins, and even our DNA.• It is also needed to make chlorophyll in plants, which plants use in photosynthesis to make their food and energy. 

Thus, through the nitrogen cycle:

• Plants obtain nitrogen through nitrogen fixation and nitrification. • Animals get their nitrogen from eating plants or animals that have eaten plants or other animals.

• At the same time, nitrogen is returned to the soil through decay (ammonification) and to the air through and denitrification.

IMPORTANCE OF CARBON AND

WATER

Important of carbon in plant

• Used for photosynthesis ,plant take carbon from CO2 at atmosphere & make own food.

Important of water in plant

• Photosynthesis• Help transport of mineral & nutrient

from soil to root.• Maintenance plant structure.

POLLUTION

NOISE POLLUTION

WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION? Sound that is unwanted or disrupts one’s quality of life is

called as noise. When there is lot of noise in the environment, it is termed as noise pollution.

Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the normal activities such as working, sleeping, and during conversations.

It is an underrated environmental problem because of the fact that we can’t see, smell, or taste it.

World Health Organization stated that “Noise must be recognized as a major threat to human well-being”

HEALTH EFFECTS

Noise pollution can damage physiological and psychological health.

High blood pressure, stress related illness, sleep disruption, hearing loss, and productivity loss are the problems related to noise pollution.

It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and panic attacks.

SOURCES Transportation systems are the main source of noise pollution

in urban areas.

Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a lot of noise, due to the usage of air compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers.

Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable state of noise pollution.

Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the existing noise pollution.

SOLUTIONS Planting bushes and trees in and around sound generating

sources is an effective solution for noise pollution.

Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles can effectively reduce the noise pollution.

Buildings can be designed with suitable noise absorbing material for the walls, windows, and ceilings.

Workers should be provided with equipments such as ear plugs and earmuffs for hearing protection.

SOLUTIONS Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery and

servicing should be done to minimize noise generation.

Soundproof doors and windows can be installed to block unwanted noise from outside.

Regulations should be imposed to restrict the usage of play loudspeakers in crowded areas and public places.

Factories and industries should be located far from the residential areas.

SOLUTIONS FOR NOISE POLLUTION Community development or urban management should

be done with long-term planning, along with an aim to reduce noise pollution.

Social awareness programs should be taken up to educate the public about the causes and effects of noise pollution.

What is Land Pollution??

Land pollution can be defined as acts occurring on an

area resulting in colour change, fertility, and erosion. It

is caused by waste in the form of liquid or solid.

Causes of Land Pollution

1)Garbage disposal : 2 methods of disposal

I. Garbage filling method

II. Combustion method

2)The removal of toxic and nuclear waste : When toxic waste

and nuclear contaminates the soil surface,

then it will result in decreased soil

quality. This will impact large to humans

and the environment.

3)Deforestation : Due to absence of tree roots to grip

the ground this resulting landslide which would

endanger the lives of people who live near the area .

4)Agricultural chemical : When not used by the plants the

nutrients can enter streams and lakes during the run-off

or leaching events

What Impact?

1)The spread of disease germs : Pest animals such as rats, cockroaches

and flies are concentrated in the area and spread the disease germs by

accidental human consumption vulnerable people.

2) Land damaged and less quality : occurrence of soil contamination. Poor

quality causes the plants or vegetables that are grown life with

imperfect and less fertile.

3) Soil erosion : Detrimental to the financial and

economic terms, but also threaten the security

and human life, such as landslides and

earthquakes. cleaning and plowing hills serum

resulted in no plant that can withstand the

ground from collapsing.

How to Solve?Environmental education is one method that can be

implemented to overcome the problem of soil pollution.

Environmental education can form a positive attitude towards

the environment themselves. With the awareness on an

individual, he will be aware of the importance of environmental

quality are maintained.

In addition, awareness campaigns can also be done to

reduce the environmental pollution. Among environmental

campaigns that can be implemented is please love our river

campaign, recycling, and environmentally friend. During this

campaign participants will be taught about the importance of

protecting the environment, etc. .

Media exposure time is also one of the ways that can be

taken to address the issue of soil contamination. During this

day, the mass media play an important role in shaping the

thinking of all users. As such, with the availability of mass

media exposure on environmental contamination issues, the

public be very careful in dealing with pollution problems.

AIR POLLUTION

Any visible or invisible particle or gas found in the air that is not part of the original, normal composition.

Natural: forest fires, pollen, dust storm

Unnatural: man-made; coal, wood and other fuels used in cars, homes, and factories for energy

POLLUTANTS

Carbon Monoxide

•colorless, odorless

•produced when carbon does not burn in fossil fuels

•present in car exhaust

•deprives body of O2 causing headaches, fatigue, and impaired vision

Sulfur Dioxide

•produced when coal and fuel oil are burned

•present in power plant exhaust

•narrows the airway, causing wheezing and shortness of breath, especially in those with asthma

Nitrogen Dioxide

•reddish, brown gas

•produced when nitric oxide combines with oxygen in the atmosphere

•present in car exhaust and power plants

•affects lungs and causes wheezing; increases chance of respiratory infection

Particulate Matter

•particles of different sizes and structures that are released into the atmosphere

•present in many sources including fossil fuels, dust, smoke, fog, etc.

•can build up in respiratory system

•aggravates heart and lung disease; increases risk of respiratory infection

EFFECTS

•Limits visibility

•Decreases UV radiation

•Yellow/black color over cities

•Causes respiratory problems and bronchial related deaths

•Greenhouse effect

•Global warming

•Acid rain

• HOW TO OVERCOME??

•Ride your bike

•Tell your friends and family about pollution

•Make sure your parents get pollution checks on their cars

•Join a group to stop pollution

•Encourage your parents to carpool to work

•Switch off lights, fan, heat, etc. when you leave the room

THANK YOU