Biogeochemical Cycles

Objectives:

Identify and describe the flow of nutrients in

each biogeochemical cycle.

Explain the impact that humans have on the

biogeochemical cycles.

Chapter Overview Questions

What happens to energy in an ecosystem?

What happens to matter in an ecosystem?

What Sustains Life on Earth?

Solar energy,

the cycling of

matter, and

gravity sustain

the earth’s life.

Figure 3-7

Two Secrets of Survival: Energy Flow

and Matter Recycle

An ecosystem

survives by a

combination of

energy flow and

matter recycling.

Figure 3-14

MATTER CYCLING IN

ECOSYSTEMS

Nutrient Cycles: Global Recycling

Global Cycles recycle nutrients through the

earth’s air, land, water, and living organisms.

Nutrients are the elements (CHNOPS) and

compounds that organisms need to live, grow,

and reproduce.

Biogeochemical cycles move these substances

through air, water, soil, rock and living

organisms.

• Water, Nitrogen, Carbon, Phosphorus, Sulfur Cycles

Water’s Unique Properties

There are strong forces of attraction between

molecules of water.

Water exists as a liquid over a wide

temperature range.

Liquid water changes temperature slowly.

It takes a large amount of energy for water to

evaporate.

Liquid water can dissolve a variety of

compounds.

Water expands when it freezes.

Fig. 3-26, p. 72

Precipitation Precipitation

Transpiration

Condensation

Evaporation

Ocean storage

Transpiration

from plants

Precipitation

to land

Groundwater movement (slow)

Evaporation

from land Evaporation

from ocean Precipitation

to ocean

Infiltration and

Percolation

Rain clouds

Runoff Surface runoff

(rapid)

Surface

runoff

(rapid)

Effects of Human Activities

on Water Cycle

We alter the water cycle by:

Withdrawing large amounts of freshwater.

Clearing vegetation and eroding soils.

Polluting surface and underground water.

Contributing to climate change.

Fig. 3-27, pp. 72-73

Effects of Human Activities

on Carbon Cycle

We alter the carbon cycle by adding excess CO2 to the atmosphere through:

Burning fossil fuels.

Clearing vegetation faster than it is replaced.

Figure 3-28

Effects of Human Activities

on the Nitrogen Cycle

We alter the nitrogen cycle by:

Adding gases that contribute to acid rain.

Adding nitrous oxide to the atmosphere through

farming practices which can warm the

atmosphere and deplete ozone.

Contaminating ground water from nitrate ions in

inorganic fertilizers.

Releasing nitrogen into the troposphere through

deforestation.

Effects of Human Activities

on the Nitrogen Cycle

Human activities

such as

production of

fertilizers now fix

more nitrogen

than all natural

sources

combined.

Figure 3-30

Fig. 3-31, p. 77

Dissolved in Ocean

Water

Marine Sediments Rocks

uplifting over

geologic time

settling out weathering sedimentation

Land Food Webs

Dissolved in Soil Water, Lakes, Rivers

death,

decomposition

uptake by

autotrophs

agriculture

leaching, runoff

uptake by

autotrophs

excretion

death,

decomposition

mining Fertilizer

weathering

Guano

Marine Food Webs

Effects of Human Activities

on the Phosphorous Cycle

We remove large amounts of phosphate from

the earth to make fertilizer.

We reduce phosphorous in tropical soils by

clearing forests.

We add excess phosphates to aquatic

systems from runoff of animal wastes and

fertilizers.

Fig. 3-32, p. 78

Hydrogen sulfide

Sulfur

Sulfate salts

Decaying matter

Animals

Plants

Ocean

Industries

Volcano

Hydrogen sulfide

Oxygen

Dimethyl

sulfide

Ammonium

sulfate

Ammonia

Acidic fog and precipitation Sulfuric acid

Water Sulfur

trioxide

Sulfur dioxide

Metallic

sulfide

deposits

Effects of Human Activities

on the Sulfur Cycle

We add sulfur dioxide to the atmosphere by:

Burning coal and oil

Refining sulfur containing petroleum.

Convert sulfur-containing metallic ores into free

metals such as copper, lead, and zinc releasing

sulfur dioxide into the environment.

The Gaia Hypothesis:

Is the Earth Alive?

Some have proposed that the earth’s various

forms of life control or at least influence its

chemical cycles and other earth-sustaining

processes.

The strong Gaia hypothesis: life controls the

earth’s life-sustaining processes.

The weak Gaia hypothesis: life influences the

earth’s life-sustaining processes.

What do you think?

Does life on earth control earth’s life-

sustaining processes or does life merely

influence these life-sustaining process?

Free Response

Objectives:

Identify and describe the flow of nutrients in

each biogeochemical cycle.

Explain the impact that humans have on the

biogeochemical cycles.