Biogeochemical Cycles

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Biogeochemical Cycles
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• Need to consider interactions between abiotic
  (non living) and biotic (living) factors.
• Also consider energy flow and chemical cycling.

3

• Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen can be recycled
  between living and non-living things in an
  ecosystem and the biosphere.

4

• Even though energy flow and chemical cycling are
  different in nature, they are related to feeding
  patterns within ecosystems

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Chemical Cycling

• Producers incorporate chemicals from non-living
  environment into organic compounds.
• Consumers feed on producers, incorporating some
  chemicals into their bodies and release some as
  waste.
• As organisms die, decomposers break them down to
  supply chemicals in the inorganic form for soil,
  water and air.
• Three types of cycling
• Carbon and Oxygen Cycle
• Nitrogen Cycle
• Water Cycle

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Carbon and Oxygen Cycle

• In the atmosphere carbon is found in its
  inorganic form CO2.
• Producers use the CO2 to form organic compounds
  during photosynthesis.
• During cellular respiration, both producers and
  consumers break down organic compounds and
  release CO2 as a waste product.
• Non-living processes contribute to CO2 production

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• Burning of fossil fuels
• Oil
• Coal
• Natural gas
• Burning of wood
• Forest fires
• Human activities
• Volcanic eruptions

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Carbon and Oxygen Cycle
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Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen
• Found in all living organisms
• An element of Amino Acids
• Produce proteins
• Makes up 80 of the Earths atmosphere
• Producers can use it in the form of ammonium or
  nitrate
• Nitrogen fixation
• Nitrogen gas to ammonia
• Nitrification
• Ammonium to nitrates

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Nitrogen Cycle
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Water Cycle

• Solar energy evaporates water from land and
  water surfaces adding gaseous water vapor into
  the atmosphere.
• Water vapor cools and condenses falling to the
  ground as precipitation.
• Rain
• Snow
• Hail
• Sleet
• Plants get water from soil, consumers by eating
  and drinking.

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• Some water can be lost by plants through the
  process called transpiration, which is then
  evaporated into the atmosphere.
• Water not retained by plants or soil will run off
  into rivers and streams, or restore ground waters.

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Water Cycle