3-3: Cycles of Matter

Biology 1

• All organisms need more than energy to survive

• Organisms need water, minerals and many other things

• 95% of the body is made up of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen

Introduction

• Energy flows in one direction through ecosystems, but matter is recycled

• Elements, chemicals and matter are passed from one organisms to another through biogeochemical cycles– BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES: process

in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another

Recyclingin the

Biosphere

• Matter can cycle through the biosphere because organisms DO NOT use up matter, they transform it

• Biogeochemical cycles pass the same molecules around again and again

Recyclingin the

Biosphere

• All organisms require water to survive

• Water moves between the ocean, atmosphere and land in different states

Water Cycle

• Food you eat and chemicals you use are nutrients–NUTRIENTS: chemical substance

that an organism requires to live

• Every organism needs nutrients to build body parts and to stay alive. Nutrients are passed between organisms and the environment through biogeochemical cycles

Nutrient Cycles

Includes:Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen CyclePhosphorus

Cycle

• Carbon is key to living organisms– Can be found in many forms

• 4 types of processes:– Biological: photosynthesis,

respiration, decomposition– Geochemical: erosion, volcanos– Biogeochemical: burial,

decomposition, fossil fuel– Human Activities: mining,

cutting/burning forests, burning fossil fuels

Carbon Cycle

• Ecologists are interested in primary productivity of ecosystems– PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY: rate at

which organic matter is created by producers in an ecosystem

• If a nutrient is in short supply it is called a limiting nutrient– LIMITING NUTRIENT: single

nutrient that either is scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms in an ecosystem

Nutrient Limitation

• When water ecosystems have large amounts of limiting nutrients there is an IMMEDIATE increase of producers (like algae) causing an algal bloom–ALGAL BLOOM: an immediate

increase in the amount of algae and other producers that results from a large input of a limiting nutrient

• Causes problems with other organisms that need more room to move

Nutrient Limitation

Section Assessment1. Energy flows in ___________ through

ecosystems, but matter in ___________ .2. Matter can cycle through the biosphere

because organisms DO NOT ___________ matter, they ___________ it.

3. Water moves between the ___________ , ___________ and ___________ in different states.

4. What are the 4 types of processes in the carbon cycle?