Transcript Biogeochemical Cycles of Matter

Biogeochemical
Cycles of Matter
Biology I
Cycling maintains homeostasis
 Matter in the form of nutrients, moves through the organisms at each trophic
level
 Matter cannot be replenished like energy from sunlight
 Matter is constantly recycled
Cycles of Matter
Biogeochemical cycles-the process by which
abiotic materials move from the atmosphere or
soil into organisms and back again.
There are 4 types of Cycles:
►Water
► Carbon/Oxygen
► Nitrogen
►Phosphorous
 Water is the most common compound in all
living cells & necessary for life
Most cycling occurs through the following
 Transpiration-process where water
leaves/enters the atmosphere by
evaporating from leaves
 Evaporation-process where water
changes from liquid to gas form
 Condensation-process where water
vapors (gas) turns into liquid water
 Precipitation-process where water vapor
condenses, the drops of water fall to the
earth (rain, sleet, hail, or snow)
 Surface run off- when rain does not
infiltrate into the soil it runs off the land
back into rivers, lakes, oceans etc…..
Identify the following phases of the water cycle.
Water Cycle
The elements Carbon &
Oxygen are also necessary for
life
Carbon is the building blocks
for all living things
In the atmosphere carbon is in
the form of gas CO2
Producers take in CO2 for the
process of photosynthesis &
release O2 through cellular
respiration.
Consumers release water and
CO2 as waste
 Carbon exists as: deposits of
coal, petroleum, & natural gas
derived from once-living
organisms
Ex: humus ►decaying leaves & material
Large amounts of carbon are in
wood & is released when
burned
Identify the following parts of the
Carbon Cycle
Carbon Cycle
The nitrogen cycle converts
atmospheric nitrogen N2, into a form
plants & animals can use
Nitrogen must first go through
the following steps:
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the 1. Nitrogen fixation- nitrogen
atmosphere
fixing bacteria found on the
Organisms can’t use nitrogen gas in
the air
roots of plants convert N2 into
ammonia.
All organisms need Nitrogen to make 2. Ammonification-decomposers
proteins and nucleic acids
return N2 to the soil from
remains of dead organisms &
from animal and plant waste
3. Denitrification- anaerobic
bacteria break down nitrates
and release nitrogen gas back
into the atmosphere