Biology Cycles of Matter

What is a Biogeochemical Cycle of Matter?

the movement of a particular atom or molecule through the biotic and abiotic parts of ecosystems using biological, geological, and chemical processes.

What are the cycles driven by

the flow of energy through the ecosystem

Carbon cycle

moves carbon atoms form the atmosphere and/or ground, into and through the food web, and then returns them to the atmosphere and/or the ground

How do organisms use carbon atoms

carbon atoms build all the molecules needed for life - carbohydrates, lipids (fats), proteins, and nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) 

Carbon cycle - Photosynthesis

removes carbon atoms (in the form of carbon dioxide gas) from the atmosphere and moves it into the producers in the food chain (plants take it in)

Carbon cycle - cellular respiration

this process returns carbon atoms (in the form of carbon dioxide gas) back into the atmosphere

carbon cycle - decomposition

this process breaks down dead organisms and returns carbon atoms to the soil and the atmosphere when they complete cellular respiration. They will also use some of the carbon atoms to build molecules necessary for life in their own tissues

Carbon cycle - consumption

while moving through organisms in food chains, the carbon atoms become parts of the major molecules needed for life (carbs, fats, proteins, and DNA)

What are two things that contribute to CO2 in the atmosphere

Volcanoes and the burning of fossil fuels

Nitrogen cycle

this cycle moves nitrogen atoms between the atmosphere, food web, and soil

How do organisms use nitrogen atoms

Nitrogen atoms build several molecules needed for life - amino acids make up proteins and nitrogenous bases make up DNA

Nitrogen Fixation

“nitrogen-fixing” bacteria living in the soil and connected to some plant roots convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into nitrate molecules, which are usable by plants

Denitrification

“denitrifying” bacteria living in the soil convert nitrates in the soil back into nitrogen gas, which gets released back into the atmosphere

assimilation

plant roots absorb nitrates through their roots

Nitrogen - decomposition

this process breaks down dead organisms and returns nitrogen atoms to the soil as well as using them to build necessary molecules for life in their own tissues

Nitrogen - Consumption

while moving through the organisms and food chains, the nitrogen atoms become parts of thee major molecules needed for life (proteins and DNA)

Phosphorus cycle

this cycles moves phosphorus atoms between the ground and the food chain

How do organisms use phosphorus atoms?

build several molecules needed for life - parts of DNA molecules, cellular membranes, parts of fat, and the major energy molecule used for life called ATP

Sedimentation

phosphorus cycle - this process called phosphorus atoms to get packed back down into rocks

geologic uplift and weathering

these processes break down rocks to release phosphorus atoms into water runoff

agriculture

the practice of agriculture pollutes waterways and phosphorus atoms that run off from fertilizers and eroding soils that have been over-used

leaching

this process causes water to remove phosphorus from the soil so it becomes available to organisms living in the water

Phosphorus - decomposition

this process breaks down dead organisms and returns phosphorus atoms to the soil as well as using them to build necessary molecules for life in their own tissues

phosphorus - consumption

while moving through the organisms in food chains, the phosphorus atoms become parts of the major molecules needed for life (cellular membranes, DNA, fats, and ATP energy molecules)

Water cycle

this cycle moves water molecules between the atmosphere, ground, waterways, and the foodchain

How do organisms use water molecules?

Organisms can only live a few days without water, have bodies mostly made of water, producers need water to help them make food through photosynthesis, and all organisms produce water when they digest food through cellular respiration

Evaporation

the process that causes liquid water to move into the air in a gas form

condensation

the process causes water in the gas form to form into liquid droplets suspended in their air as clouds

precipitation

this process causes water in clouds to fall back down to the surface of the earth. Can be through the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail

run-off/percolation

water moves on the surface of earth as well as moving through the soil into groundwater sources

evapotranspiration

water evaporates out of the leaves of plants

consumption - water cycle

while moving through the organisms in the food chains, water molecules are used for life processes like digestion, dissolving of nutrients, etc.

Where is earth’s water found?

97% in oceans

2% in glaciers and polar ice caps

1% in lakes, rivers, groundwater

What is the basic building block of living things? 

Carbon

How is carbon recycled?

Photosynthesis and respiration

What other processes affect carbon

CO2 is held dissolved in the oceans, decaying matter is often trapped as no oxygen is available to help recycle it, and humans increase the amount of CO2 in the air by burning fossil fuels and by removing vegetation

Why does removing plants increase CO2 in the air? 

it prevents plants from taking up co2 for photosynthesis, leading to more co2 in the air

Carbon dioxide + water =

sugar + oxygen

Nitrogen gas into nitrates

nitrogen fixation

denitrifying bacteria

feeds on dead plants, animals, and animal waste to release nitrogen gas into the atmosphere

phosphorus is stored… 

in the lithosphere - rocks and sediment

When rocks are broken down..

phosphates (PO43) is released into the soil

what is phosphorus used for

many fertilizers and detergents which can leak into the waterways and pollute them

On land, phosphorus is…

absorbed by plants

Animals then eat the plants and…

the phosphorus is transferred to them

Phosphorus is a key component in making up..

a vital component of DNA and other life sustaining molecules

When the animals and plants die, decomposers break down the dead organisms and ….

release the phosphorus back into the soil, continuing the cycle

Nitrogen impacts

fertilizers that can get into water and cause cancer in humans