BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

1) What are biogeochemical cycles and examples of them on Earth?

2) Why are they important?3) How do you interpret models of

biogeochemical cycles?

DAY 1: Biogeochemical Cycles Biogeochemical cycles are cycles that connect

biological, geological and chemical processes on earth.

They are important in making recycling the nutrients, minerals and water essential for life.

Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.

Matter can cycle through the biosphere because biological systems do not use up matter, they only change it.

Matter can neither be created nor

destroyed, only transferred or transformed

Day 2: Carbon Cycle

Carbon is an essential organic compound, and an important ingredient in living tissue.

Sources of carbon are plant and animal respiration, burning fossil fuels, and auto and factory emissions.

Day 2: Carbon Cycle

Plants absorb carbon through photosynthesis.

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6

+ 6O2

Carbon is released into the soil when organisms, like bacteria, decompose plants and animal wastes.

Day 3: Nitrogen Cycle Important nutrient for all living things and in protein formation.

Nitrogen fixing bacteria found in soil and some plants (e.g. legume plants) , nitrifying algae and lightning (in minor amounts) can take nitrogen out of the atmosphere.

Day 3: Nitrogen Cycle

Plants absorb nitrogen through their roots and animals eat the plants.

Denitrifying bacteria release nitrogen to the atmosphere.

Day 4: Water Cycle

Label the parts of the water cycle:

a) runoffb) power sourcec) condensationd) precipitatione) Evaporation

(transpiration from plants)