Cycles in NatureCh. 25-2

EQ: How does matter move among the biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem?

Recycling in the Biosphere

• Energy and matter move through the biosphere very differently

•Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems

The Water CyclePrecipitation

Runoff

Seepage

Evaporation/Transpiration

Condensation

What these term mean:• Precipitation – Rain, snow, hail, mist• Runoff – water running down a hill/

mountain• Seepage – water going into the ground• Evaporation – water going into the air (think

steam) •Transpiration – water going into the air from the water that is in plants and animals

• Condensation – Water forming clouds

Water moves between the ocean, atmosphere and land.

Nutrient Cycles•A nutrient is a chemical substance that an organism needs to sustain life

• Similar to water, nutrients are passed between organisms and the environment through cycles

Carbon Cycle• The carbon cycle starts with

producers removing CO2 from the air during photosynthesis• They use this to make sugars that

make up their structure which other animals eat.• Energy is released from these

molecules during respiration.• Respiration uses oxygen and releases

CO2.

• Photosynthesis then uses that CO2 and the cycle starts again.

Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle• All organisms require nitrogen to make proteins.• Only certain types of bacteria can use the nitrogen in the air• Such bacteria live in the soil and on the roots of some plants. They convert nitrogen gas into ammonia in a process called nitrogen fixation

Nitrogen Cycle key terms:• Nitrogen fixation – turns nitrogen in the air

into ammonia.• Nitrification – turns ammonia into a useful

form called nitrate• Denitrification – changes the Nitrate to

nitrogen gas.• Assimilation – Plants or animals taking in

the useful nitrogen (Nitrate)• Ammonification – Animal waste that goes

into the ground (think cow manure/ fertilizer)

Nitrogen Cycle

Copy again

Question 1

•Transpiration is part of theA.Water cycleB.Carbon cycleC.Nitrogen cycleD.Nutrient cycle

Question 2

•Carbon is found in the atmosphere in the form ofA.CarbohydratesB.Carbon dioxideC.Calcium carbonateD.ammonia

Question 3• The only organism that can covert nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form useful to living things are nitrogen fixingA.PlantsB.BacteriaC.DetritivoresD.animals