Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical CyclesLeyda

Biogeochemical Cycles• Over 95% of the body is made of these elements:S P O N C H : Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen• An ecosystem needs two things:• A flow of Energy (goes one way through trophic levels and

is lost along the way)• Cycle of materials

Water Cycle• Water = H2O• Cycles Hydrogen and Oxygen through the

biosphere• Water makes up to 70% of the mass of our bodies• Water is an important solvent for cell processes

Water Cycle

Water Cycle1. Precipitation: water falls to the Earth as rain, snow or ice

Water Cycle2. Runoff: Water moves along the Earth’s surface into rivers, lakes, or streams

Water Cycle3. Seepage: Water soaks through the soil and collects in pools underground.

• Can be gradual or sudden

Sinkhole – Guatemala May 2010• After hurricane – 60 meters deep• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoOHmdL2I9Y

Water Cycle4. Evaporation: Water changes from a liquid to a gas (usually occurs at the surface of lakes and oceans)

Water Cycle5. Transpiration: Water evaporates from the leaves of plants (the most evaporative)

Water Cycle6. Condensation: Water changes from gas to liquid (occurs when warm, moist air rises and cools in the upper atmosphere)

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle• Carbon is the main ingredient in all living things• Carbon makes up the 4 macromolecules of life:• Carbohydrates• Lipids• Proteins• Nucleic Acids

Carbon Cycle1. Photosynthesis: Plants take in CO2 from the atmosphere and use it to make food.

Carbon Cycle2. Feeding: Animals obtain carbon by eating plants.

Carbon Cycle3. Respiration: Animals breathe out CO2 when they burn food to get energy.

Carbon Cycle4. Deposition: When organisms decay, carbon is

trapped in sediments underground that eventually form rocks or fossil fuels.

Carbon Cycle5. Human Activity: Burning fossil fuels in factories

and cars releases CO2 into the atmosphere.

Carbon Cycle6. Decomposition: Energy-rich, carbon-based

compounds formed from the decaying bodies of buried organisms.

Carbon Cycle – In the Ocean7. Photosynthesis: Phytoplankton are Producers

in the Ocean 8. Feeding: Phytoplankton (Producers) are eaten

by consumers.9. Respiration: CO2 is released when organisms

burn food.

Carbon Cycle10. Erosion: Rocks break down, releasing carbon

into the soil or ocean where it can be used by organisms.

Carbon Cycle11. Volcanic Activity: CO2 released into the

atmosphere

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle• Nitrogen is important for making proteins and

DNA• Nitrogen makes up ¾ of our atmosphere• N2 (Nitrogen gas) cannot be used by living things until it

is changed into Nitrates, Nitrites, or Ammonia

Nitrogen Cycle1. Fertilizers: Humans add usable nitrogen

directly to soil.

Nitrogen Cycle2. Nitrogen Fixation: Bacteria in the roots of

plants change nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3) so that plants can use it.

Nitrogen Cycle3. Lightning: Changes nitrogen gas into nitrate

and nitrite.

Nitrogen Cycle4. Uptake: Producers take up usable nitrogen from

the soil and ocean.

Nitrogen Cycle5. Consumers: Obtain nitrogen by eating plants.

Nitrogen Cycle6. Excretion: Urine returns nitrogen to the soil. Decomposition: When organisms decay, nitrogen

is returned to the soil.

Nitrogen Cycle7. Denitrification: Some bacteria change usable

nitrogen back into nitrogen gas (N2) which goes back into the atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle1. What are two ways nitrogen cycle allows nitrogen

to be taken out of the atmosphere and made usable for plants and animals?Nitrogen fixing bacteria, lightning, man

made fertilizer2. What are the three ways that ammonia (NH3) are formed?Nitrogen fixing bacteria, decomposition,

excretion, deposition

Phosphorus Cycle1. What is phosphorus used for in living things?

2. What form is phosphorus frequently found in?

3. What part of the biosphere is phosphorus not found in, that carbon, water and nitrogen are found in?

ATP (Energy), DNA (Phosphate Group)

Rocks, sediments, soil minerals

Atmosphere