Nutrient Nutrient (Geobiochemical) (Geobiochemical)

CyclesCycles

The Underlying Bases of The Underlying Bases of AbioticAbiotic ChangesChanges

Wump World by Bill PeetWump World by Bill Peet

Wump World by Bill PeetWump World by Bill Peet

Wump World by Bill PeetWump World by Bill Peet

Departure of the PollutiansDeparture of the Pollutians

Wump World by Bill PeetWump World by Bill Peet

IInn ttiimmee tthhee mmuurrkkyy sskkiieess wwoouulldd cclleeaarr uupp aanndd tthhee rraaiinnss wwoouulldd wwaasshh tthhee ssccuumm ffrroomm tthhee rriivveerrss aanndd llaakkeess.. TThhee ttaallll bbuuiillddiinnggss wwoouulldd ccoommee ttuummbblliinngg ddoowwnn aanndd tthhee ffrreeeewwaayyss wwoouulldd ccrruummbbllee aawwaayy.. AAnndd iinn ttiimmee tthhee ggrreeeenn ggrroowwtthh wwoouulldd wwiinndd iittss wwaayy uupp tthhrroouugghh tthhee rruubbbbllee..

BBuutt tthhee WWuummpp WWoorrlldd wwoouulldd nneevveerr bbee qquuiittee tthhee ssaammee..

In time the murky skies would clear up and the rains would In time the murky skies would clear up and the rains would wash the scum from the rivers and lakes. The tall buildings wash the scum from the rivers and lakes. The tall buildings would come tumbling down and the freeways would would come tumbling down and the freeways would crumble away. And in time the green growth would wind its crumble away. And in time the green growth would wind its way up through the rubble.way up through the rubble.

But the Wump World would never be quite the same.But the Wump World would never be quite the same.

Possible Exam Questions from Possible Exam Questions from Previous WeekPrevious Week

1.1. List and explain the four premises of List and explain the four premises of evolution by natural selection as proposed by evolution by natural selection as proposed by Charles Darwin.Charles Darwin.

2.2. Relate the concepts of niche, competitive Relate the concepts of niche, competitive exclusion, and resource partitioning.exclusion, and resource partitioning.

3.3. What are the differences between primary What are the differences between primary and secondary succession?and secondary succession?

Possible Exam Questions from This Possible Exam Questions from This WeekWeek

1.1. Draw a biogeochemical cycle (e.g., carbon cycle Draw a biogeochemical cycle (e.g., carbon cycle or nitrogen cycle).or nitrogen cycle).

2.2. Diagram the general global patterns of air Diagram the general global patterns of air circulation and precipitation. Discuss the circulation and precipitation. Discuss the process by which these patterns arise.process by which these patterns arise.

3.3. Describe how humans have altered the nitrogen Describe how humans have altered the nitrogen cycle. Describe how these alterations directly cycle. Describe how these alterations directly affect the environment and indirectly effect the affect the environment and indirectly effect the environment through the carbon cycle.environment through the carbon cycle.

Flow of Energy and MatterFlow of Energy and Matter

Energy Flow (Review)Energy Flow (Review)

Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical cycles describe the ecosystem Biogeochemical cycles describe the ecosystem by the transfer of elements through the system.by the transfer of elements through the system.

By examining the cycles we can By examining the cycles we can look at the look at the fluxes of nutrients (sources and sinks) and better fluxes of nutrients (sources and sinks) and better understand human-caused imbalances.understand human-caused imbalances.

Biogeochemical Cycles Processes Biogeochemical Cycles Processes

Regulate nutrientsRegulate nutrients

Influence climate stabilityInfluence climate stability

Influence the purity of drinking waterInfluence the purity of drinking water

Basic CyclesBasic Cycles

1.1. Hydrologic (water)Hydrologic (water)

2.2. Carbon Carbon

3.3. Nitrogen Nitrogen

4.4. Phosphorus Phosphorus

5.5. Sulfur Sulfur

Water CycleWater Cycle

Water CycleWater Cycle

Estimate of Global Water Distribution – Gleick, 1996Estimate of Global Water Distribution – Gleick, 1996

VolumeVolume

(1000 km(1000 km33)) Percent of Percent of

Total WaterTotal Water Percent of Percent of

Fresh WaterFresh Water Oceans, Seas, & BaysOceans, Seas, & Bays 1,338,0001,338,000 96.596.5 --

Ice caps, Glaciers, & Ice caps, Glaciers, & Permanent SnowPermanent Snow

24,06424,064 1.741.74 68.768.7

GroundwaterGroundwater 23,40023,400 1.71.7 --

FreshFresh (10,530)(10,530) (0.76)(0.76) 30.130.1

SalineSaline (12,870)(12,870) (0.94)(0.94) --

Soil MoistureSoil Moisture 16.516.5 0.0010.001 0.050.05

Ground Ice & PermafrostGround Ice & Permafrost 300300 0.0220.022 0.860.86

LakesLakes 176.4176.4 0.0130.013 --

FreshFresh (91.0)(91.0) (0.007)(0.007) 0.260.26

SalineSaline (85.4)(85.4) (0.006)(0.006) --

AtmosphereAtmosphere 12.912.9 0.0010.001 0.040.04

Swamp WaterSwamp Water 11.4711.47 0.00080.0008 0.030.03

RiversRivers 2.122.12 0.00020.0002 0.0060.006

Biological WaterBiological Water 1.121.12 0.00010.0001 0.0030.003

TotalTotal 1,385,9841,385,984 100.0100.0 100.0100.0

Estimate of Global Water Distribution – Gleick, 1996Estimate of Global Water Distribution – Gleick, 1996

VolumeVolume

(1000 km(1000 km33)) Percent of Percent of

Total WaterTotal Water Percent of Percent of

Fresh WaterFresh Water Oceans, Seas, & BaysOceans, Seas, & Bays 1,338,0001,338,000 96.596.5 --

Ice caps, Glaciers, & Ice caps, Glaciers, & Permanent SnowPermanent Snow

24,06424,064 1.741.74 68.768.7

GroundwaterGroundwater 23,40023,400 1.71.7 --

FreshFresh (10,530)(10,530) (0.76)(0.76) 30.130.1

SalineSaline (12,870)(12,870) (0.94)(0.94) --

Soil MoistureSoil Moisture 16.516.5 0.0010.001 0.050.05

Ground Ice & PermafrostGround Ice & Permafrost 300300 0.0220.022 0.860.86

LakesLakes 176.4176.4 0.0130.013 --

FreshFresh (91.0)(91.0) (0.007)(0.007) 0.260.26

SalineSaline (85.4)(85.4) (0.006)(0.006) --

AtmosphereAtmosphere 12.912.9 0.0010.001 0.040.04

Swamp WaterSwamp Water 11.4711.47 0.00080.0008 0.030.03

RiversRivers 2.122.12 0.00020.0002 0.0060.006

Biological WaterBiological Water 1.121.12 0.00010.0001 0.0030.003

TotalTotal 1,385,9841,385,984 100.0100.0 100.0100.0

Carbon Cycle/Global Warming Carbon Cycle/Global Warming Affect the Water CycleAffect the Water Cycle

Increased temperature Increased temperature increased precipitation, increased precipitation, runoff, and soil moisture.runoff, and soil moisture.

Feedback from increased temp:Feedback from increased temp:

Increased cloud cover Increased cloud cover (1) reflects light back into (1) reflects light back into the atmosphere, so decreased temp.the atmosphere, so decreased temp.

Increased cloud cover Increased cloud cover (2) water vapor absorbs heat (2) water vapor absorbs heat in the atmosphere, so in the atmosphere, so increased temp.increased temp.

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

Diagram of Carbon CycleDiagram of Carbon Cycle

Relevance of Carbon Cycle Relevance of Carbon Cycle to Climate Changeto Climate Change

COCO22 in atmosphere is increasing 0.4% a year (= 40% in in atmosphere is increasing 0.4% a year (= 40% in

100 yr.)100 yr.)

Increasing COIncreasing CO22 causes increased temperatures. causes increased temperatures.

(Greenhouse effect)(Greenhouse effect)

Heat captured by the atmosphere:Heat captured by the atmosphere:COCO22 = 50% = 50%

CHCH44 = 20% = 20%

CFCs = 15%CFCs = 15%NONO22, H, H22O, OO, O33 = 15% = 15%

LightLight

Ultraviolet lightUltraviolet light is absorbed by ozone.is absorbed by ozone.

Visible lightVisible light passes through atmosphere, then it passes through atmosphere, then it is is absorbedabsorbed by earth and water, re-radiated by earth and water, re-radiated as as direct heat or direct heat or infrared lightinfrared light (which also may be (which also may be absorbed by COabsorbed by CO22, CH, CH44 , or H , or H22O to produce heat) O to produce heat) which contributes to which contributes to the the greenhouse effectgreenhouse effect..

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

Effects of Increased NitrogenEffects of Increased Nitrogen

1.1. Loss of soil nutrients (calcium, potassium)Loss of soil nutrients (calcium, potassium)

2.2. Acidification of rivers and lakes (fertilizers Acidification of rivers and lakes (fertilizers and combustion of coal).and combustion of coal).

3.3. Increases nitrogen oxides in the atmosphereIncreases nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere

(greenhouse gas—global warming). (greenhouse gas—global warming).

(reduce ozone—increasing UV (reduce ozone—increasing UV penetration).penetration).

Effects of Increased NitrogenEffects of Increased Nitrogen

4.4. Aids in spreading weeds into nitrogen poor Aids in spreading weeds into nitrogen poor areas (+Eutrophication of lakes, ponds, areas (+Eutrophication of lakes, ponds, streams).streams).

5.5. Increasing nitrogen increases carbon fixation Increasing nitrogen increases carbon fixation (linked to carbon cycle).(linked to carbon cycle).

6.6. Increasing acidification increases weathering Increasing acidification increases weathering (increases rate of phosphorous cycle).(increases rate of phosphorous cycle).

Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle

Diagram of Phosphorus CycleDiagram of Phosphorus Cycle

SulphurSulphur Cycle Cycle

Sulphur CycleSulphur Cycle

Sulphur Sulphur CycleCycle

ConclusionsConclusions

In contrast to energy, which moves in one In contrast to energy, which moves in one direction through the ecosystem, materials direction through the ecosystem, materials are continually recycled from the abiotic are continually recycled from the abiotic environment to organisms, and back to environment to organisms, and back to the abiotic environment.the abiotic environment.

Changes in one of the biogeochemical Changes in one of the biogeochemical cycles usually influences the other cycles usually influences the other biogeochemical cycles.biogeochemical cycles.