Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems (2.6)

Recycling Matter

• All life on Earth requires __________ and ___________• These particles of matter don’t remain in your body forever• Every part of ___________ _________ in your body is ______________

over time• We are like living ________________ machines• ___________________ from food are used to _______________ and

______________ all the _______________ in our body• Approximately ________________ blood cells are replaced every second in your body.• You are a fantastic recycling machine!!

Biogeochemical Cycles

• As matter cannot be _________________ or _________________, it must be produced or obtained from chemicals that already exist in the environment.

• Therefore ____________________ _______________ involve movement of matter (cycles) through the ________________ and _________________ environment on earth.

• These cycles are: 1. __________________ Cycle

2. __________________ Cycle

3. __________________ Cycle

The Water Cycle

The series of processes that cycle water through the environment

Transpiration & Evaporation• Liquid water ___________________ forming water ________________ that travels

through the __________________• Water that is taken in by ____________ _______________ is released by

______________ through ________________

Condensation• The ______________ eventually _______________________• It forms _______________ water or ice crystals in the ______________________

Precipitation and Runoff• Vapour returns to the Earth as __________, ___________ or ______________• Water falling on land and melting snow move across the surface (____________) and

enter ________________ of water• If this doesn’t occur it will enter the ___________ and ______________________ instead

The Carbon Cycle• All living things contain ___________________.• Carbon is found in the ___________________ and ________________ in the

________________ as carbon dioxide (________)• Carbon, from the atmosphere, is used by ________________ to make carbohydrates

through the process of ________________• Carbon is _________________ to the environment through the process of

_____________ _________________.• ________________ can release the ________________ found in ______________

organisms and _________________ through cellular respiration as well.

• Carbon dioxide can dissolve in water to form carbonic acid, which can be used by water plants as a source of carbon.

Carbon Deposits• Most of the earth’s carbon is stored

in ____________ __________ ______________

• ____________ ______________ are the most valuable carbon deposits

• It is also stored in _______________ from millions of years of dead marine organisms

• Carbon ____________ are contained in plant tissues and _____________ in oceans

Human Activities and the Carbon Cycle• Humans ____________ the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through

_________________ fossil fuels• This causes _______________ _________________ and alters average temperatures

disrupting ecosystems• _________________________ reduces the amount of photosynthesis needed for

absorption of carbon dioxide

The Nitrogen Cycle• The atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen gas,

______ but plants cannot use nitrogen in this form, it must be supplied in other forms:

• _____________ ion (NH4+)

• _____________ ion (NO3-)

Making Nitrogen Useable________________ ___________________

• The process of converting N2 gas into usable sources, such as ammonium (NH4+)

• This accomplished by _____________ or ________________.• Without ______________, movement of nitrogen would almost STOP completely!

________________ ___________________: • The process of converting _____________ (NO3

-) back into ____________ gas (N2)