Ecology 2.0

Cycles in the EnvironmentPopulations and Biodiversity

The Water Cycle Evaporation: water turns from

liquid to a gas Transpiration: water from a

plant turns to a gas Warm humid air rises & cools

to form a liquid again to make clouds (condensation)

Precipitation: water falls as any form

Groundwater: water that soaks into the ground

Runoff water: water that does not soak into the ground

The Carbon Cycle Carbon is released in

several ways: As CO2 from respiration Decaying material

releases heat and CO2

Burning fossil fuels Volcanic activity

Plants use the carbon (C) from CO2 to make it into glucose and release O2 (photosynthesis).

The Oxygen Cycle

Oxygen (O2) is needed

for respiration Plants produce O2

during photosynthesis and release it into water and the air

Consumers take in O2

during respiration and let it out as CO2.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is needed to make protein 78% of air is nitrogen in the form of N2

Gaseous N2 must be fixed (converted to solid forms) so that it can be absorbed or eaten.

http://www.h2ou.com/h2images/NitrogenCycle-lgr-F.jpg

How does Nitrogen Cycle?

Lightning can make N2 bond to water in the air, and it will come down with rain.

Bacteria in the soil can change N2 into NH3 (ammonia)

Animals eat plants containing nitrogen and excrete it as NH3 in urine

Decomposition puts ammonia in the soil

Ammonia is converted into NO2 (nitrites) and NO3 (nitrates)

Plant roots absorb nitrates

Bacteria can convert nitrates back into N2 and return it to the atmosphere

Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus (P) is needed to make DNA and RNA

Phosphorus is found in soil, rocks and water.

It is taken in mainly as PO4 (phosphate)

How Does Phosphorus Cycle?

Plant roots absorb phosphorus from soil.

Animals eat plants and take in the phosphorus.

Animals excrete phosphorus and return it to soil.

Phosphorus Cycle