The Cycles of Life

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The Cycles of Life
or how does carbon move throughout our world?
California State Standards 7.a. b.
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Biogeochemical Cycles
Biogeochemical cycles are those cycles that
involved the movement of matter from the living
to the non-living and back to the living portion
of our world. Bio living Geo Earth
(non-living) Chemical elemental form of matter
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The Carbon Cycle

• The movement of carbon from the living to the
  nonliving part of our world
• The main types of carbon are carbon dioxide as
  the inorganic form of carbon and
• carbon as found in living and dead organisms.

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The Carbon Cycle has two parts

• 1. Photosynthesis
• 2. Cellular Respiration

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The Carbon Cycle
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Photosynthesis

• The uptake of C by plants in the process of
  photosynthesis is how C is fixed into the
  living world. By this process, called carbon
  dioxide fixation, carbon enters into the living
  part of the C cycle.

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Photosynthesis
CO2 H2O (ENERGY) ? C2H4O2 O2
Carbon dioxide plus water plus energy from the
sun results in glucose, or carbohydrates, plus
oxygen.
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Cellular Respiration

• Cellular respiration by animals is one of the
  means by which C is moved to another part of the
  C cycle. Animals use the carbohydrates from
  photosynthesis to provide them with energy. In
  this process carbon is converted back into carbon
  dioxide through cellular respiration.

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Cellular Respiration
C2H4O2 O2 ? CO2 H2O ATP
Glucose or carbohydrate plus oxygen turns into
carbon dioxide plus water plus ATP (energy).
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Changes to the Carbon Cycle

• Changes to the carbon cycle can come about by
  increasing or decreasing the source of carbon or
  by increasing or decreasing the sink for carbon.

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Changes to the Carbon Cycle

• We can increase the source of carbon by burning
  fuels such as gasoline or coal which put more
  carbon into the atmosphere. So in addition to
  animals giving off C, through respiration, C can
  be added into the atmosphere by burning fossil
  fuels such as gasoline and coal.

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Adding Carbon to the Atmosphere
Coal burning power plants
Automobiles using gasoline
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Changes to the Carbon Cycle

• We can decrease the sink for carbon by removing
  trees and other plants which take up carbon as
  carbon dioxide. Thus the deforestation of our
  planet can decrease the sink for carbon dioxide.

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Changing the Carbon Cycle
Tree removal reduces the sink or the amount of
carbon removed from the atmosphere.
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Changes to the Carbon Cycle

• So we can affect the carbon cycle by planting
  trees or removing them or
• by reducing our dependence upon the burning of
  fossils fuels such as gasoline and coal or
• by relying upon alternative sources of energy
  like nuclear power plants which do not burn
  fossil fuels or

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The Carbon Cycle

• Therefore, we should conserve our natural
  resources and become more aware of our impact on
  our environment for future generations to come.

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Global Warming?

• Adding of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from
  automobiles and power plants and
• removing of trees through deforestation and
• not replacing of these trees is adding to
• global Warming.

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Global Warming?

• This change in the carbon cycle can result in
  increase cancer rates
• a change in plant and animal distribution and
  changes in the carbon fixation by the oceans.

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Global Warming?

• This change in the carbon dioxide is causing what
  is know as the greenhouse effect.
• The greenhouse effect is when the atmosphere
  becomes warmer by trapping the heat within the
  Earths atmosphere.

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National Arbor Day
Nation Arbor Day has been recognized since 1872.
It is celebrated on the last Friday in April
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Sooooo Go Plant a Tree!