3.3 cycles of matter

3.3 Cycles of Matter
Recycling in the Biosphere
Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems

Elements, chemical compounds and other matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another through biochemical cycles
It connects biological, geological and chemical aspects of the biosphere
Matter can cycle through biosphere because biological system do not use up matter; they transform
Uses same molecules again and again within the biosphere

The Water Cycle
All living things need water
Process by which water changes form liquid form to an atmospheric gas is evaporation
Water can also enter the atmosphere by evaporation from the leaves of plant in the process of transpiration
During the day the sun heats the atmosphere, as the warm moist air rises; it cools, then water vapor condenses into tiny droplets that form clouds; droplets become large enough fall to the Earth’s surface in form of precipitation ----- EX: rain, snow, sleat, hail

Once on land water enters rivers and streams, and runoff is carried back to ocean or lake
Or seeps into soil to become groundwater water in soil enters plants through roots and cycle begins again

Nutrient Cycles
All chemical substances an organism needs to sustain life are called nutrients
Body’s chemical building blocks--nutrients
Every organism needs nutrients to build tissues and carry out essential life functions. Water nutrients are passed between organisms and the environment through biochemical cycles
Carbon Cycle
In the form of CaCO3 component of animal skeletons and found in several kinds of rocks
Carbon and oxygen form carbon dioxide CO2
Carbon dioxide is taken in by plants during photosynthesis and is given off by both plants and animals during respiration 4 main processes move carbon through its cycle
Biological processes- respiration, decomposition—take up and release carbon and oxygen
Geochemical processes erosion and volcanic activity releases carbon dioxide to atmosphere and oceans
Mixture process decomposition of animals and the conversion of under pressure to coal and petroleum ( fossil fuels) and store carbon
Human activity - mining cutting and burning forests and fossil fuels which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by volcanic activity, by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and vegetation, and by the decomposition of organic matter.
Plants take in carbon dioxide and use the carbon to build carbohydrates during photosynthesis
As temperature of oceans rise; the acidity raises; marine life have difficult time make shells because they tend to remain soft

Nitrogen Cycle
All organisms require nitrogen to make amino acids, which build proteins
Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of atmosphere
Found in the form of ammonia NH3, nitrate ions NO3- and nitrite ions NO2- in wastes in dead decaying
Bacteria that lives in the soil and on roots o plants are called legumes, convert nitrogen gas into ammonia in process known as nitrogen fixations
Other soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas in a process called denitrifixcation —this process releases nitrogen into the atmosphere once again
See analyzing data pg. 79

Phosphorus Cycle
Essential to living organisms because it forms part of the life-sustaining molecules such as DNA &RNA
Unlike carbon, oxygen and nitrogen phosphorous DOESNOT enter the atmosphere
Mostly on land in rock and soil miners and in ocean sediments

Nutrient Limitation
Primary productivity of an ecosystem which is the rate at which organic matter is created by produces
Amount of available nutrients controls primary productivity
Short supply limits growth-----limited by a single factor is called—limiting nutrient
Double edge sword---farmers apply fertilizers to their crops to boost productivity, fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which help plants grow larger but some fertilizers end up in run off
When an aquatic ecosystem receives a large input of limiting nutrient for example per runoff form heavily fertilized fields the result is often an immediate increase in amount of algae & other producers. The result is algal bloom.
Why does this occur? More nutrients available so producers grow and reproduce more quickly, if not enough consumers to eat the excess algae the conditions can become favorable for growth that algae cover the surface of the water ----they disrupt the equilibrium of an ecosystem