CHAPTER 2 Cycle of Matter
CHAPTER 2 Cycle of Matter
CHAPTER 2 Cycle of Matter
Matter
Earth:
Matter does not come and go
Earth is a
Closed
System
to Matter
Cycles of Matter
Unlike the one-way flow of energy,
matter is recycled within and
between ecosystems.
These cycles are the water cycle,
Nutrient Cycle, Carbon Cycle,
nitrogen cycle and phosphorus cycle.
Producer
s
Herbivore
s
Nutrien
t Pool
Carnivore
s
Decompose
rs
KEY CONCEPT:
Matter cycles in and out of an
ecosystem.
Key Concepts
Matter is what all things are made of.
By matter we mean: elements
(carbon, nitrogen, oxygen) or
molecules (water).
Matter is neither created nor
destroyed. All matter cycles through
the earth cycles.
Key Concepts
Biogeochemical cycles: the movement (or
cycling) of matter through a system.
In general we can subdivide the Earth
system into the atmosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere, and biosphere.
Biogeochemical cycles are part of the larger
cycles that describe the functioning of the
whole Earth (not just the surface parts).
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
1. Why is the biogeochemical used to
describe matter cycling through an
ecosystem?
. Two types of biogeochemical cycles
Carbon and nitrogen cycles where the
element enters the atmosphere at
some point. The atmosphere acts as
the major reservoir or store for the
element.
Phosphorus cycle the element does
not enter the atmosphere at any stage.
What is biogeochemical?
BIO: Biology. Life. Living things. These cycles all play a role in the
lives of living things. The cycles might limit the organisms of Earth or
they might happen along side, changing the environment.
GEO: Earth. Rocks. Land. This refers to the non-living processes at
work. Oxygen cycles through many systems. It's in you and plants for
the 'bio' part of the cycle. Oxygen might also wind up in rocks The
'geo' part of its cycle.
CHEMICAL: Molecules. Reactions. Atoms. All cycles include these
small pathways. Complete molecules are not always passed from one
point to the next. Sometimes chemical reactions take place that
changes the molecules and locations of the atoms. Think about
oxidation as an example of the 'chemical' part of these pathways.
To sum it up, these pathways are all made of different
biological, geological, and chemical processes that help
make the world go 'round and life exist on Earth.
iz
al
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en
G
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og
B i cl e
ed Cy
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Biogeochemical Cycles:
Reservoirs & Pathways
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
I.
condensation
transpiration
evaporation
surface
runoff
lake
water storage in
ocean
groundwater
II.
oxygen
photosynthesis
respiration
carbon
dioxide
Key Concepts
The Carbon cycle is one of the most important to
humans because it is important to our existence:
--one of the primary elements forming human
tissues
--necessary to plants, the basis of human food and
because it is important to the climate system
which sets the background for our environment:
-- carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) are
greenhouse gases which help set global
temperatures.
respiration
photosynthesis
respiration
decomposition
of organisms
fossil fuels
photosynthesis
carbon dioxide
dissolved in water
plant
nitrogen-fixing
bacteria in
decomposers
roots
ammonification
nitrogen-fixing
ammonium
bacteria in soil
nitrifying
bacteria
nitrates
nitrifying
bacteria
nitrites
denitrifying
bacteria
Nitrogen moves
through the food
web and returns to
the soil during
decomposition.
animals
plant
nitrogen-fixing
bacteria in
decomposers
roots
ammonification
nitrogen-fixing
ammonium
bacteria in soil
nitrifying
bacteria
nitrates
nitrifying
bacteria
nitrites
denitrifying
bacteria
V.Phosphate Cycle
rain
plants
geologic uplifting
weathering of
phosphate from rocks
runoff
animalsphosphate
phosphate in solution
in soil
leaching
decomposers
sedimentation
forms new rocks
Review Questions
1. What is the key concept of this unit?
2. Define the key terms for the water cycle.
3. What do plants take in and then give out.
What do animals take in and give out?
4. How does the carbon cycle move carbon?
5. Where is carbon emitted?
6. Where does the nitrogen cycle take place?
7. What are phosphates released by?
AHA??!!
1. It is the building blocks of life.
2. Matter is ________ within and
between ecosystems.
3. It is the circular pathway of water on
Earth.
4. It is released by the weathering of rocks.
5. Some bacteria convert gaseous
nitrogen into ammonia through a
process called ________ fixation.
6. TRUE or FALSE. Matter is neither
AHA??!!
1. It is the building blocks of life.
2. It is the process under the water
cycle that releases or falls out after
the condensation into the ground.
3. What do plants take in and then give
out. What do animals take in and
give out?
4. Where is carbon emitted?
5. TRUE or FALSE. Energy can be
created or destroyed.