... Date 3.4 Cycles of Matter Lesson Objectives Describe how matter cycles among the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. Describe how water cycles through the biosphere. Explain why nutrients are important in living systems. Describe how the availability of nutrients affects the productivity of ecosystems. Lesson Summary Recycling in the Biosphere Matter, unlike energy, is recycled within and between ecosystems. Elements pass from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another through biogeochemical cycles, which are closed loops powered by the flow of energy. The Water Cycle Water moves between the ocean, the atmosphere, and land. Evaporation is the process in which water changes from a liquid to a gas. Transpiration is the process in which water evaporates from the leaves of plants. Nutrient Cycles The chemical substances that an organism needs to survive are called nutrients. Like water, nutrients pass through organisms and the environment. Carbon Cycle: Carbon is a key ingredient of all organic compounds. Processes involved in the carbon cycle include photosynthesis and human activities such as burning. Nitrogen Cycle: Nitrogen is needed by all organisms to build proteins. Processes involved in the nitrogen cycle include nitrogen fixation and denitrification. • In nitrogen fixation, certain bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia. • In denitrification, other soil bacteria convert nitrogen compounds called...
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...BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES Instructor: HAYDE D. FABROA BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES * The Earth is a closed system for matter, except for small amounts of cosmic debris that enter the Earth’s atmosphere. * The building blocks of life, continually cycle through Earth’s systems, the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere, on time scales that range from a few days to millions of years. These cycles are called biogeochemical cycles, because they include a variety of biological, geological, and chemical processes. * There are a few types of atoms that can be a part of a plant one day, an animal the next day, and then travel downstream as a part of a river’s water the following day. These atoms can be a part of both living things like plants and animals, as well as non-living things like water, air, and even rocks. The same atoms are recycled over and over in different parts of the Earth. This type of cycle of atoms between living and non-living things is known as a biogeochemical cycle. * Each of the chemical, biological, and geological processes varies in their rates of cycling. Some molecules may cycle very quickly depending on the pathway * Biogeochemical cycles are subject to disturbance by human activities. Humans accelerate natural biogeochemical cycles when elements are extracted from their reservoirs, or sources, and deposited back into the environment (sinks) * All chemicals, nutrients, or elements used in ecosystem by living organisms such as carbon, nitrogen...
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...In this report I will discuss the environmental effects of the disposable water bottle life cycle. In order to understand the water bottle life cycle, it would benefit you if you knew a little about the environment. So I will explain the normal functioning of water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle to start things off. Water plays many different roles on the Earth. Some is at the poles in ice caps, and some is in the snow and glaciers at the tops of high mountains. Some is in lakes and streams, and some is underground. Some is vapor in the atmosphere. But most of the water on Earth is in the oceans. Water is always on the move! The Sun’s energy causes water to evaporate from oceans and lakes into the atmosphere (Saundry). Plants and animals...
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...chemical compositions that make up organisms and connect them together. Matter takes up space and has a mass all of its own. It will cycle between the living and non-living components of any ecosystem and will continue to be recycled over and over again. It is because of these biogeochemical cycles that the ecosystems stay balanced and organisms stay alive. These cycles contain food, water, air as well as their surroundings (Miller and Hackett, 2012). There are four main cycles: water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous. With all of these systems working together, matter is able to be recycled with the help of solar energy. The first cycle is the water or hydrologic cycle. This is the cycle that is most familiar because it is often taught in subjects such as biology and chemistry. The water cycle recycles the Earth’s fixed supply of water (Miller and Hackett, 2012). A good portion of the earth’s water is in the oceans. The sun causes the water to evaporate and as the vapor cools, it turns into droplets. When these droplets become big enough, they return to the earth and run along its surface until they reach a water source such as a river or stream. These sources will carry the runoff back to an ocean or lake. Water enters plants through their roots and the water cycle begins all over again. The next cycle is the carbon cycle. Carbon is the main ingredient of organic compounds as it is found in the...
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...tarantula, and insects. “Many animals get their energy by eating plants, but desert plants give up the fruit of their production very reluctantly. Sharp spines and chemical-laden leaves discourage plant-eaters….. Many are small and look like grains of sand. With sensitive front paws a kangaroo rat sifts sand to find seeds by touch eats them and transforms them into animal tissue.” -Desert Ecosystem. (n.d). Retrieved from http://digital-desert.com/joshua-tree-national-park/ecosystems.html For centuries, humans have affected biogeochemical cycles in many different ecosystems. Some of the impacts we have made on them are within the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle. A desert like the Mohave Desert is affected from carbon cycles like when people are driving at 75mphs and they surprise a helpless creature that is trying to cross a highway and gets struck by a speeding car. The dead creature on the side of the road releases large quantities of carbon dioxide that eventually ties up biological tissues and is released again into the atmosphere. When the animal dies its tissues decay. Another...
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...with the intentions of restoring or maintaining these natural reserves. We will discuss the major structural and functional dynamics for the Chamna Natural Preserve. Along with how humans may have affected the cycling of matter in the ecosystem, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or carbon. How knowledge can or has helped to develop plans for restoration or management. Then finally about the implications of species interactions in this specific ecosystem. Structures and Functions of the Chamna Natural Preserve The Functional dynamics of this shrub-steppe ecosystem are undergoing change, and people are involved. According to Smith (2001), “Climate change will alter the nitrogen cycling in the fragile soil of semi-arid desert regions.” Since nitrogen loss is more prevalent in warmer, drier areas then cooler, wetter areas. The microbial processes related to the cycling of nitrogen are more related to the changes is climate, then by plant competition for nitrogen. Meaning that the stability of this shrub-steppe ecosystem is highly dependent on the ecosystems ability to adjust to changing environmental conditions. Changes such as temperature and moisture also affect the storage and cycling of carbon in semi-arid areas (Smith, Carbon Storage in a Shrub-Steppe Ecosystem , 2000). Which would suggest that if global temperatures were to increase ecosystems such as the Chamna Natural Preserve would be thrown into a dire situation. One that would test each ecosystems ability to adapt...
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...2/13/2014 ECOLOGY: Terminology • Greek oikos, meaning “household,” combined with the root logy, meaning “the study of.” • literally the study of households including the plants, animals, microbes, and people that live together as interdependent beings on Spaceship Earth. 2/13/2014 7 Ecological Concepts Introduction to Natural Sciences Ecology has been defined by the Ecological Society of America (1993) as: The Four Laws of Ecology 1. Everything is connected to everything else. 2. Everything must go somewhere. 3. Nature knows best. 4. There is no such thing as a free lunch. • The scientific discipline that is concerned with the relationships between organisms and their past, present, and future environments. • These relationships include physiological responses of individuals, structure and dynamics of populations, interactions among species, organization of biological communities, and processing of energy and matter in ecosystems 2/13/2014 8 2/13/2014 10 Nature consists of a number of systems called “spheres”: • • • • • The atmosphere (air and what is in it) The hydrosphere (water in its liquid form) The lithosphere (land, rocks and below) The biosphere (all the living organisms) The anthroposphere (human system) Anthroposphere • The built environment (buildings, roads, and other infrastructure) • Agriculture (also called the Primary Sector) • The manufacturing industry (also called the Secondary Sector) • The service industry (also called the...
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...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Paper (Great Lakes) Shantera Bell October 26, 2015 SCI/256 UOP The Great Lakes region is rich with life and full of native species well adapted to survival. However, since the early 1800s, many non-native plants, animals and microscopic organisms have been introduced into the Great Lakes, either accidentally or intentionally. Great Lakes native species are diverse and interesting and contribute to a healthy ecosystem. There are many unique and interesting birds, fish and plants found in Michigan and throughout the region that are integral to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. More than 140 species of birds depend on Michigan’s coastal habitat during their life cycle. Coastal wetlands, beaches, sand dunes and remote islands provide food and shelter for both resident and migratory species. Waterfowl such as Canvasback and Scaup are among the many species that use coastal wetlands as stopover sites to rest and refuel. Shorebirds including the endangered piping plover fly thousands of miles to nest on undisturbed beaches and remote Great Lakes islands. Because of their use of the coastal lands, there are thousands of great locations to see both resident and migratory bird species throughout Michigan and the Great Lakes region. State parks, national parks, wildlife refuges and sanctuaries throughout the state all provide good bird-watching opportunities. Some sites along Michigan’s Great Lakes shoreline are even...
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...life for thousands of plant and animal species, Yellowstone is one of the few remaining unaltered natural ecosystems left in Earth’s temperate zones (National Park Service", 2013). The national park is home to many species of microscopic life perfectly evolved to cope with the high temperatures of the heated mineral-laden water that bubbles and rushes to the surface. Coexisting alongside are hundreds of other easily recognized species. The carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen cycles are each apparent and active in the park. Carbon is part of every living thing, and cycles through living organisms, air, water, and will fixate in the ground; coal is carbon stored in a solid mineral state. Carbon is stored in several places; it is found in the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the oceans in both living (fish and plants) and non-living (dissolved carbon and carcasses) distributions. It is stored in sediments and the strata, the mantle and the crust of the Earth, where interactions occur as the result of geological processes. This fixed carbon moves between these assorted reservoirs using various chemical, biological, and geologic processes. Without human influences like pollution from the burning of fossil fuels, the reservoirs would be much more stable than they are...
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...decrease the classes' contribution to the carbon cycle during the term? Consider the differences between the two in terms of methods of travel, and use of facilities, energy, and other resources. Remember to focus on the impact to the carbon cycle. Part 2) Complete the ecological footprint quiz at the following link: http://myfootprint.org/en/visitor_information and report your results. What did you learn about you and your family's impact on the environment? • Part 1) We decrease the distribution to the carbon cycle by being in online classes, because the burning of fossil fuels increase the amount of CO2 being distributed into the air. Being in online classes keeps one indoors to do their classwork and participate. • Part 2) My carbon footprint is 59.47, My food footprint is 76.46, My housing footprint is 34.17, My goods and services footprint is 21.15. If everyone in the planet lived my lifestyle, we would need 4.95 earths. After doing this quiz, it showed me that I need to start recycling a little more and buying products that would be better for me and the environment specially when it comes to the foods I eat, I need to eat more healthier and spend less on fast food items which is something me and my family frequent every weekend. I did not know just the little things I do could effect the environment so much. Exercise 2. Using ONE ecosystem from the list below, explain the role of the carbon, hydrologic, phosphorus, and nitrogen cycles in this ecosystem. Choose from a "normal":...
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...1. A. Soil Formation Weathering break up the surface of parent rocks into small particles. Air and water enter the spaces between the particles and chemical changes take pace which resut in the production of chemical substances. Bacteria and plant life soon appear. When plant and animal organisms die, they decay and produce a substance called humus. This is very important to so fertility. Bacteria play a vital role into the decomposition of plants and animals remains. The end product of these mechanical, chemical, and biological processes is called soil which is one of the world’s most important natural resources. B. Composition of Soil All soil contain mineral matter, organic matter, air, water and living organisms, especially bacteria. If any one of these is seriously reduced in amount, or removed frm a soil, ten the soil deteriorates. Soil is an important component of the physical environment of many ecosystem. The main components of a typical soild can be divided into two: Organic components and Inorganic components. Organic Components - include include living organism such as baceteria and fungi which serve as the decomposers;a very important parts of the recycling and decay processes. It also include many invertebrates animal such as insects and worms. Finally, there are many plants or parts and worms. Finally, there are many plants or parts of palnts such as roots and seeds. Inorganic compoents – Inorganic components include mineral, water and air. Soil...
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...Energy Flow through an Ecosystem Energy Flow through an Ecosystem Explain how most living things depend on the sun as their ultimate energy source. “Without the sun, all life dies” (Konacq, 2014). Plants need to photosynthesize the food they need for growth. The food chain is also affected. Photosynthesis is needed to make nutritious food that animals depend on for survival (Konacq, 2014). Without sunshine, “all plants die” (Konacq, 2014). Because plants support the global food chain for all life, without plants, “all animals would die” (Konacq, 2014). The sun also aids in keeping the earth at a reasonable temperature and in the past, sunshine has helped make fossil fuels which we use today (Konacq, 2014). Describe the characteristics that make water so unique and essential for life on Earth. 1. Water molecules are polar. They have a slightly positive charge on one side and a slight negative charge on the other. Water carries materials to and from cells and it dissolves polar or ionic substances (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2013). 2. Water is the only liquid that is inorganic and occurs in nature. It occurs normally and at temperatures that are suitable for life (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2013). 3. Water molecules stick together cohesively. It adheres to surfaces and can be drawn into small channels (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2014). 4. Water expands when it crystalizes. If the temperatures happen to fall below freezing, the surface layers of bodies...
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...reduction to a minimal population level. Some causes for this type of cycle may be natural changes to the food supply, excessive predation, or regular climate cycles. Biomes are major life zone, identified by the physical environment in aquatic (marine and freshwater) biomes, and vegetation type in terrestrial biomes. These biomes are crucial to sustaining life. Freshwater biomes have a low salt content. They supply water for drinking, crop irrigation, sanitation, and industry. Marine, or salt water, biomes have a higher degree of salinity. Photosynthetic plankton and algae provide much of the earth’s oxygen supply; and oceans are a major part of the water cycle, providing rainwater for land through evaporation. Terrestrial biomes are home to a large variety of plants that generate oxygen via photosynthesis. They also provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for animal species. Ecosystems include all the organisms in a given area, along with non-living factors, such as energy, soil characteristics, and water. Since all organisms need energy for growth, repair, reproduction, and in some cases movement, an ecosystems ability to recycle non-renewable chemical elements of energy production is vital. Three such elements are carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen. In the carbon cycle, carbon from the atmosphere is recycled through the process of cellular respiration in animals, and photosynthesis id plants and algae. Phosphorus from rocks is weathered by wind and rain into the soil. It is then...
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...of filtration and chlorination. | Describe the need for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium containing fertilizers | | 3 | Name some of the uses of water in the home | Describe the displacement of ammonia from its salts | | 4 | Describe the composition of clean water as being approximately 79% nitrogen, 20% oxygen and the remainder as being a mixture of noble gasses, water vapor and carbon dioxide. | State that carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases and may contribute to climate change | | 5 | Name the common pollutants in the air as being carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and lead compounds | Describe the formation of carbon dioxide | | 6 | State the source of each of these pollutanatsCarbon monoxideSulfer dioxideOxides of nitrogen from car exhausts | State the sources of methane, including decomposition of vegetation and waste gases from digestion in animals | | 7 | State the adverse effect of common pollutanats on buildings and on health | Describe sacrificial protection in terms of the reactive series of metals and galvanizing as a method of rust prevention | | | Supplement | | 8 | Describe the separation of oxygen and nitrogen from liquid air by fractional distillation | Describe the essential conditions for manufacture of ammonia by the harbor process including the sources of the hydrogen and nitrogen | | 10 | Describe and explain the presence of oxides of nitrogen in...
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...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Doris Winters SCI/256 September 7, 2015 University of Phoenix Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Of all the wonders we have in these United States, I have chosen The Great Lakes as my topic to discuss the changes these wonderful bodies of water are currently experiencing. I have narrowed my view to Lake Michigan, as it is the largest of the lakes. From the EPA: On November 15, 1990, in response to mounting evidence that air pollution contributes to water pollution, Congress amended the Clean Air Act and included provisions that established research and reporting requirements related to the deposition of hazardous air pollutants to the "Great Waters." The water bodies designated by these provisions are the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, Chesapeake Bay, and certain other coastal waters (identified by their designation as sites in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System or the National Estuary Program). (EPA, 2015) Lake Michigan currently functions with the dynamic, being it has exceptional fishing, irrigation and provides clean drinking water to the communities surrouding the lake. Its structural dynamic as an ecosystem currently offers for research and developmet all human threats. An example is the introduction of invasive species, such as zebra mussels and those HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms), that expand because of the nutrients in certain fertalizers. The scientific community is also doing research yearly,...
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