Biogeochemical Cycles: Carbon, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen Overview

chemicals are cycled between what?

Chemicals Are Cycled Between Organic Matter and Abiotic Reservoirs

The Carbon Cycle Depends on what

Photosynthesis and Respiration

Carbon is the

is the major ingredient of all organic molecules

Carbon has a __________

has an atmospheric reservoir

Carbon cycles_______

Globaly

Carbon resides in what 6 things

resides in plant and animal biomass, fossil fuels, soils, sedimentary rocks, and as dissolved carbon.

Name IN ORDER the 5 steps to the carbon cycle

Photosynthesis, Consumption, Cellular respiration, Decomposition, and Burning of fossil fuels and biomass

Photosynthesis

Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria take in CO₂ from the atmosphere to make sugars.

Consumption

Primary consumers eat the plants, passing carbon along the food chain to higher-level consumers

Cellular respiration

Animals, plants, and microbes release CO₂ back into the atmosphere as they break down sugars for energy.

Decomposition

When organisms die or produce waste, decomposers break them down, returning carbon to the soil as detritus and releasing some CO₂.

Burning of fossil fuels and biomass

Combustion of wood and fossil fuels releases stored carbon as CO₂ back into the atmosphere.

Plants, algae, and certain prokaryotes use photosynthesis to ______

convert light energy to chemical energy and store the chemical energy in sugar, made from carbon dioxide and water.

What type of organisms use the energy of light to produce organic molecules?

Photoautotrophs

What are chemoautotrophs?

Prokaryotes that use inorganic chemicals as their energy source

What type of organisms feed on plants, animals, or decompose organic material?

Heterotrophs

What is the energy source for photoautotrophs?

Light

What type of energy source do chemoautotrophs use?

Inorganic chemicals

Photosynthesis in plants where does it take place

takes place in chloroplasts

what do the chloroplasts do

they convert carbon dioxide and water into organic molecules which releases oxygen

The Phosphorus Cycle Depends on what

It depends of the weathering of rock

What form of phosphorus do organisms usually need?

Phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻)

What are three biological roles of phosphorus?

Nucleic acids, phospholipids, and ATP

Besides biological molecules, where else is phosphorus important?

Bones and teeth

Does the phosphorus cycle have an atmospheric component?

NO

How does phosphate move in ecosystems?

From land to water ecosystems

What happens to phosphorus in terrestrial ecosystems over time?

It gradually diminishes because it's removed faster than it's replaced

The Nitrogen Cycle Depends on what

Bacteria

What biological molecules need nitrogen?

Proteins and nucleic acids

Why is nitrogen important for organisms?

It's essential for structure, function, and is a key plant nutrient

What are the two main abiotic reservoirs of nitrogen?

Atmosphere (≈80% N₂) and soil

What process converts nitrogen gas (N₂) into forms plants can use?

Nitrogen fixation

Which organisms perform nitrogen fixation?

Various soil bacteria and bacteria in root nodules of some plants

What nitrogen compounds can plants use after fixation?

Ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻)

name the 6 stages of the phosphourus cycle in order

Rocks and Minerals, Soil, Plants, Animals, Decomposers / Detritus, and Water / Aquatic Systems

In the phosphorus cycle Rocks and Minerals

Phosphorus starts in rocks as phosphate-containing minerals.

In the phosphorus cycle soil

Weathering of rocks releases phosphate into the soil.

In the phosphorus cycle plants

Plants absorb phosphate from the soil to build nucleic acids, ATP, and phospholipids.

In the phosphorus cycle animals

Animals get phosphorus by eating plants (or other animals).

In the phosphorus cycle Decomposers / Detritus

When plants and animals die or produce waste, decomposers return phosphorus to the soil.

In the phosphorus cycle Water / Aquatic Systems

Phosphate can be washed into rivers, lakes, or oceans, sometimes forming sediments that may eventually turn into rocks again.

What are all of the spots in the nitrogen cycle in order

Atmosphere, Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Soil, Plants, Animals, Decomposers, Nitrifying bacteria, Denitrifying bacteria

during the nitrogen cycle in the Atmosphere

Nitrogen gas is stored in the air.

during the nitrogen cycle at the Nitrogen-fixing bacteria stage

Change N₂ into ammonium plants can use.

during the nitrogen cycle at the soil stage

Holds ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate for plants.

during the nitrogen cycle at the plants stage

Absorb nitrogen to make proteins and DNA.

during the nitrogen cycle at the animals stage

Get nitrogen by eating plants or other animals.

during the nitrogen cycle at the decomposers stage

Return nitrogen from waste and dead matter to soil.

during the nitrogen cycle at the Nitrifying bacteria stage

Turn ammonium into nitrite and nitrate.

during the nitrogen cycle at the Denitrifying bacteria stage

Turn nitrate back into nitrogen gas for the air.

what is the transfer of matter within the ecosystem.

chemical cycling

what is biodiversity

the variety of all living things

the concentrating of synthetic toxins that cannot be degraded by organisms is called what

Biological magnification

what are the 3 greenhouse gasses

carbon dioxide (C O2),

methane (C H4), and

nitrous oxide (N2O)

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