Cycles in Aquatic Cycles in Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems

Science 10Science 10

Carbon Cycle in Aquatic Carbon Cycle in Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems

The cycle is similar in an aquatic The cycle is similar in an aquatic ecosystem, with a few variationsecosystem, with a few variations

Carbon dioxide is dissolved from the Carbon dioxide is dissolved from the atmosphere into water (forming atmosphere into water (forming carbonic acid)carbonic acid)

Aquatic plants obtain the carbon from Aquatic plants obtain the carbon from carbonic acid to perform carbonic acid to perform photosynthesisphotosynthesis

Additionally, a great deal of carbon is Additionally, a great deal of carbon is stored in shells as calcium carbonate; stored in shells as calcium carbonate; this can help to form sedimentary rockthis can help to form sedimentary rock

Write A StoryWrite A Story

Take the next few minutes to write a Take the next few minutes to write a story about the “life” of a carbon story about the “life” of a carbon atom as it passes from the biotic to atom as it passes from the biotic to abiotic environment and backabiotic environment and back Ensure you include the following Ensure you include the following

concepts: photosynthesis, cellular concepts: photosynthesis, cellular respiration, consumption, respiration, consumption, decompositiondecomposition

Story should be one to two pagesStory should be one to two pages

Aquatic Nitrogen CycleAquatic Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen in an aquatic ecosystem in Nitrogen in an aquatic ecosystem in introduced in two main ways:introduced in two main ways: Run off – nitrogen compounds from land Run off – nitrogen compounds from land

ecosystems will enter waterways and ecosystems will enter waterways and provide nitrogen to the ecosystemprovide nitrogen to the ecosystem

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) – Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) – completes nitrogen fixation in an aquatic completes nitrogen fixation in an aquatic ecosystemecosystem

The remainder of the process is The remainder of the process is almost identical to the land based almost identical to the land based nitrogen cyclenitrogen cycle

Eutrophication & Algal Eutrophication & Algal BloomBloom

Fresh water Fresh water ecosystemecosystem extra nitrogen extra nitrogen

results in a larger results in a larger growth of surface growth of surface plantsplants

Underwater plants Underwater plants do not have enough do not have enough light to complete light to complete photosynthesisphotosynthesis

Decomposer Decomposer populations populations explodes, reducing explodes, reducing oxygen in the wateroxygen in the water

Consumers die due Consumers die due to reduced resourcesto reduced resources

Marine ecosystemMarine ecosystem Extra nitrogen will Extra nitrogen will

lead to an algal bloom lead to an algal bloom (huge increase in (huge increase in algae population)algae population)

As algae die, they sink As algae die, they sink into colder waters and into colder waters and the decomposers work the decomposers work to break down the to break down the algaealgae

The decomposers The decomposers increase in population increase in population and use the available and use the available oxygenoxygen

Consumers die due to Consumers die due to reduced resourcesreduced resources

Carbon Cycle in Aquatic Carbon Cycle in Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems

The cycle is similar in an aquatic The cycle is similar in an aquatic ecosystem, with a few variationsecosystem, with a few variations

Carbon dioxide is dissolved from the Carbon dioxide is dissolved from the atmosphere into water (forming atmosphere into water (forming carbonic acid)carbonic acid)

Aquatic plants obtain the carbon from Aquatic plants obtain the carbon from carbonic acid to perform carbonic acid to perform photosynthesisphotosynthesis

Additionally, a great deal of carbon is Additionally, a great deal of carbon is stored in shells as calcium carbonate; stored in shells as calcium carbonate; this can help to form sedimentary rockthis can help to form sedimentary rock

DrawDraw

Create a diagram to show how the Create a diagram to show how the carbon cycle works in an aquatic carbon cycle works in an aquatic ecosystemecosystem

Highlight the differences between a Highlight the differences between a terrestrial and aquatic systemterrestrial and aquatic system