What goes around

comes back around!

Water Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Oxygen

Cycle & Nitrogen Cycle

Water Cycle

The water cycle involves the processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, percolation and runoff.

BrainPOP: Water Cycle

Percolation

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon moves between organisms and their physical environment.

BrainPOP: Carbon Cycle

Producers take in CO2 during photosynthesis.

Consumers take in carbon when they eat plants or other animals.

Plants and animals release CO2 to the atmosphere during cellular respiration.

When plants and animals die, decomposers break down their remains, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere and soil.

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

After millions of years of being buried in the Earth, dead plant and

animal matter becomes fossil fuels (oil/coal).

When fossil fuels are

burned, CO2 is released into

the atmosphere.

CO2 CO2

What are decomposers?Organisms that break down dead plant and animal matter.

Ex: bacteria, fungi, earthworms

Adventures of Carbon Dude

Volcanic eruptions and forest fires

Other natural ways carbon is released into the atmosphere…

Carbon sinks (absorbers)

Carbon sources (releasers)

Plants

Ocean

Atmosphere

Soil

Animals

Decomposers

Volcanic activity

Deforestation

Burning fossil fuels

How humans affect the

carbon cycle… Burning fossil fuels is

releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.

Deforestation removes trees that absorb carbon

and the fire releases carbon dioxide.

So, more carbon is being released now than is

being absorbed!!

1. During the carbon cycle, by which process do producers (plants) obtain carbon from their environment?

2. How do consumers (animals) get the carbon they need?

3. When organisms die, what other type of organism breaks down their remains to return carbon into the soil and air?

Exit Slip (carbon cycle)

Oxygen Cycle

The process by which oxygen is recycled through ecosystems.

Plants produce and

release oxygen during photosynthesi

s

O2

O2

Animals take in O2 from air

or water

O2

O2

O2

O2

O2O2

The ocean also plays a BIG role in the carbon and oxygen cycles!

There is 50 times MORE carbon in the ocean than in the atmosphere!

Marine plants (such as algae) are responsible

for producing HALF the oxygen that we breathe!

4. Explain how the cycles work together to keep a balance of oxygen and carbon on Earth.

Questions

Nitrogen Cycle

The process by which nitrogen is recycled in an ecosystem.

BrainPOP: Nitrogen Cycle

“Free” nitrogen falls to the Earth

in precipitation

Free nitrogen is converted into a usable form by

bacteria on plant roots in a process called nitrogen

fixation.

The usable nitrogen can now be absorbed by

the plants

Animals get nitrogen from eating the plants or by eating other animals that

ate the plants

Decomposers return nitrogen to the

atmosphere and soil through waste and decay.

What is the source of energy for all cycles in

nature?

THE SUN!

5. Describe what must happen to nitrogen gas

(“free” nitrogen) before organisms are able to use it.