(Nutrients)

Ecosystems need nutrients and energy

Nutrients are

Organisms transform nutrients

Energy flows

“Circle of Life”Organisms

Environment

Matter (Nutrients)

How do we know energy is flowing?

Why is this cycle important?

If something removed?

Water molecules enter atmosphere as water vapor (gas) by:

Evaporation-water changes to water vapor Transpiration-evaporation from the leaves

of plants

How it works:1. Sun heats up the atmosphere, water

rises up and cools 2. Water vapor condense to form

droplets then clouds3. Water droplets get bigger and return

to Earth as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet or hail)

4. Precipitation runs on land to river or stream that carries the runoff back to ocean or lake

Don’t copy

Nutrient CyclesNutrient Cycles

Nutrients-Nutrients- organisms building blocks or chemical needed to help grow/carry out essential life functions

3 nutrient cycles: Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus

Carbon Cycle:Carbon is the key ingredient in all

living organisms

Don’t copy

Carbon found: In atmosphere: CO2 gas In oceans: dissolved CO2

On Land: in organisms, rocks, soil

Underground: coal, petroleum, Calcium Carbonate

Don’t copy next slides, review

4 groups of organic compounds found in living things:

1. Carbohydrates: Living things use carbs as main source of energy.

Sugar and starch molecules made of H and O animals- use in liver and muscles plants-for food and cellulose

2. Lipids: can be used to store energy. Makes biological membranes of cells and waterproof coverings.

fats, oils, waxes made of C and H atoms

Cell Membrane

3. Nucleic Acids: store and transmit hereditary information

2 kinds (RNA, DNA) made of H,O,N,C,P

atoms

RNA strand

4. Proteins: control rate of reactions, regulate cell processes, form bone and muscles, transport substances in/out of cells or fight disease.

made of C,H,O atoms made of amino acids (compounds)

Protein: made of amino acid chains folded up

Amino Acid Chain

CO2 released into the atmosphere by:

volcanic activity respiration- when

consumers exhale burning of fossil fuels decomposition of

organic matter

don’t copy

Terrestrial plants-remove CO2 from the atmosphere

Aquatic plants- remove CO2 from the waterProducers-convert CO2 into Carbs (Glucose)

“food”Consumers-carry out cellular respiration

breaking down glucose into CO2

Nitrogen Cycle: Organisms need nitrogen to Organisms need nitrogen to

make make amino acidsamino acids and build and build proteinsproteins

Nitrogen Gas (NNitrogen Gas (N22)) is 78% of is 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere the Earth’s atmosphere

Can’t be absorbed directlyCan’t be absorbed directly Cacteria convert NCacteria convert N2 2 into into

compounds for use:compounds for use: Nitrogen Fixation-Nitrogen Fixation- bacteria bacteria

living in soil, water or roots living in soil, water or roots of plants (legumes/bean of plants (legumes/bean plants) convert Nplants) convert N2 2 into into ammoniaammonia

Nitrification-Nitrification- 2-step process2-step processNH3 -> NO2 -> NO3 NH3 -> NO2 -> NO3

Don’t copyDon’t copy

1.NH3 Ammonia1.NH3 Ammonia in soil is in soil is converted by bacteria to converted by bacteria to Nitrite ions (NO2)Nitrite ions (NO2) but is but is toxic to plantstoxic to plants

2. Then it is converted to 2. Then it is converted to Nitrate ions (NO3Nitrate ions (NO3) which is ) which is taken up by taken up by plantsplants

3. Plants eaten by 3. Plants eaten by consumersconsumers and reuse N to make and reuse N to make proteinsproteins

4. Decomposers4. Decomposers break down break down dead and return dead and return ammonia ammonia (NH3)(NH3) to the soil to the soil

copycopy

Denitrification-Denitrification- other bacteria convert other bacteria convert nitratesnitrates into into N2 (gas)N2 (gas) to be released to be released into the atmosphere againinto the atmosphere again

Phosphorus Cycle:

Phosphorus is nutrient for plants and animals which forms DNA and RNA

Does not enter atmosphere like C,N,O

Found in land, rock, soil and ocean sediments

How it works: don’t copy

1. Phosphorus in inorganic phosphate form

2. Released by weathering/wind

3. Dissolved in soil and water

4. Taken up by plant roots in land and water

5. Plants bind into organic compounds to move through food web

*Limiting factor for plants

Limiting nutrient- when an ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce of cycles slowly

Consumers get phosphorus by eating producers/animals Animal wastes and decay of dead organisms return

phosphorus to soil and water Guano- manure of fish eating birds