Cycles of Matter
Published on Nov 20, 2015
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Cycles of Matter
3.4 by Kate Thel
Recycling in the Biosphere
How does matter move through the biosphere?
Recycling in the Biosphere
- No steady supply of matter
- Recycled within and between ecosystems
- Elements pass from one organism to the next through the biogeochemical cycle
- Biological, geological, chemical processes
- Matter is never created or destroyed- only changed
Unlike how sunlight is constantly entering the biosphere, Earth does not receive a significant, steady supply of new matter from space.
Due to this, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.
Elements pass from one organism to the next through the biogeochemical cycle.
The cycles of matter involve biological, geological, and chemical processes.
Matter is never created or destroyed; only changed
Due to this, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.
Elements pass from one organism to the next through the biogeochemical cycle.
The cycles of matter involve biological, geological, and chemical processes.
Matter is never created or destroyed; only changed
biological process: activities performed by living organisms
geological process: movements of matter within and below the surface of the Earth
chemical and physical process: change of matter involving a chemical reaction
human activity: the change of matter caused by actions of humans
The Water Cycle
How does water recycle through the biosphere?
Untitled Slide
The Water Cycle
- recycled between ocean, atmosphere, and land
- evaporation and transpiration
- groundwater
Water continuously moves between the oceans, the atmosphere, and land
Water typically enters the atmosphere when it evaporates from bodies of water of transpiresthrough leaves of trees.
(transpiration: the process by which moisture is carried from the roots of plants to small pores on the underside of their leaves)
(evaporation: the changing of liquid to gas)
Water typically enters the atmosphere when it evaporates from bodies of water of transpiresthrough leaves of trees.
(transpiration: the process by which moisture is carried from the roots of plants to small pores on the underside of their leaves)
(evaporation: the changing of liquid to gas)
Nutrient Cycles
What is the importance of the main nutrient cycles?
Untitled Slide
Nutrient Cycles
- Nutrient: chemical substances that an organism needs
- nutrients needed to carry out functions
- carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen
Nutrients are the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life
Every organism needs nutrients to carry out functions
three pathways that move carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus are critical
also oxygen is released by photosynthesis, a biological process
Every organism needs nutrients to carry out functions
three pathways that move carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus are critical
also oxygen is released by photosynthesis, a biological process
The Carbon Cycle
Carbon is continuously exchanged through chemical and physical processes.
Plants take in carbon dioxide, a form of carbon, during photosynthesis
decomposers release carbon when breaking down dead organisms' bodies
geologic forces turn accumulated carbon into rocks or fossil fuels
carbon is released when humans clear and burn forests
Plants take in carbon dioxide, a form of carbon, during photosynthesis
decomposers release carbon when breaking down dead organisms' bodies
geologic forces turn accumulated carbon into rocks or fossil fuels
carbon is released when humans clear and burn forests
Carbon Cycle
- major component of all organic compounds
- exchanged through chemical and physical processes
- plants, decomposers, geologic forces, humans
Carbon is continuously exchanged through chemical and physical processes.
Plants take in carbon dioxide, a form of carbon, during photosynthesis
decomposers release carbon when breaking down dead organisms' bodies
geologic forces turn accumulated carbon into rocks or fossil fuels
carbon is released when humans clear and burn forests
Plants take in carbon dioxide, a form of carbon, during photosynthesis
decomposers release carbon when breaking down dead organisms' bodies
geologic forces turn accumulated carbon into rocks or fossil fuels
carbon is released when humans clear and burn forests
Nitrogen Cycle:
Nitrogen Cycle
- need nitrogen for amino acids
- 78% of Earth's atmosphere
- soil, waste, dead organic matter
- nitrogen fixation: conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds
- denitrification: bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen
organisms require nitrogen in order to make amino acids
nitrogen gas makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere
nitrogen containing substances are found in soil, waste, and dead organic matter
nitrogen fixation is the conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use
denitrification is the process by which bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen.
humans add nitrogen to biosphere through use of fertilizer. excess fertilizer is carried into groundwater by precipitation
nitrogen gas makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere
nitrogen containing substances are found in soil, waste, and dead organic matter
nitrogen fixation is the conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use
denitrification is the process by which bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen.
humans add nitrogen to biosphere through use of fertilizer. excess fertilizer is carried into groundwater by precipitation
Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
- part of DNA and RNA
- not abundant
- mostly stay on land
- rocks and sediments
- plants bind phosphorus into organic compounds
Phosphorus forms a part of DNA and RNA
Unlike carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, it is not abundant in the atmosphere
inorganic phosphate mostly stays on land
phosphate is released when rocks and sediments wear down
some phosphate cycles exist between organisms and soil
plants bind phosphate into organic compounds when it is absorbed from soil
Unlike carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, it is not abundant in the atmosphere
inorganic phosphate mostly stays on land
phosphate is released when rocks and sediments wear down
some phosphate cycles exist between organisms and soil
plants bind phosphate into organic compounds when it is absorbed from soil
Nutrient Limitation
How does nutrient availability relate to primary productivity?
How does nutrient availability relate to the primary productivity of an ecosystem?
Nutrient Limitation
- primary productivity: rate at which primary producers create materials
- limiting nutrient: single essential nutrient that limits productivity
- nutrient limitation in soil
- nutrient limitation in aquatic ecosystems
Primary productivity is the rate at which primary producers create organic materials
The limiting nutrient is the single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem
fertilizer is used to give soil more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
open oceans are nutrient poor compared to many land areas
nitrogen is the limiting nutrient in salt water environments: sea water contains one one thousandth of the nitrogen found in soil
phosphorus is the limiting nutrient in freshwater environments
too much of a substance can also disrupt a functioning ecosystem
The limiting nutrient is the single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem
fertilizer is used to give soil more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
open oceans are nutrient poor compared to many land areas
nitrogen is the limiting nutrient in salt water environments: sea water contains one one thousandth of the nitrogen found in soil
phosphorus is the limiting nutrient in freshwater environments
too much of a substance can also disrupt a functioning ecosystem
