E4 - Nutrient Cycles

Question 1

What Sustains Life on Earth?

Answer 1

Solar energy, the cycling of matter, and gravity sustain the earth’s life.

Question 2

What are nutrients and why do they cycle?

Answer 2

Since there is a finite amount of matter on the planet, nutrients must be recycled through ecosystems
E.g. carbon, nitrogen

Question 3

Nutrients are substances that…

Answer 3

an organism uses to build and repair the cells of its body

An ecosystem survives by a combination of energy flow and matter recycling.

Question 4

Nutrients are made of..

Answer 4

elements

Elements are pure substances that cannot be broken down into more simple elements

Question 5

Cycling of Atoms- Matter cannot be ___ or ____ it is____

Answer 5

Matter cannot be created or destroyed 🡪 it is recycled

Question 6

Waste (from organisms) 🡪 returned to the ecosystem

Atoms cycle through the planet and at different times can be found in

Answer 6

both biotic and abiotic components
The calcium in your bones may have come from a cow , who got it from corn, that got it from rocks in the soil, that got it from the sea!

Question 7

How Do They Cycle?

It is a continuous cycle
Commonly called a…..

Answer 7

Atoms take the path from the biotic components to the abiotic components and back again

biogeochemical cycle

Question 8

Four Cycles?

Answer 8

Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle

Question 9

Where Do They Cycle?

Answer 9

Nutrients cycle both locally and globally
The local cycle cycles within a small area of the ecosystem through biotic and abiotic components
They global cycle cycles throughout the biosphere though atmospheric currents, erosion of soil, etc.

Question 10

The Water Cycle

Answer 10

Found mainly in the abiotic environment

evaperation, condensation, presipitation, collection

Question 11

Effects of Human Activities on the Water CycleC moves between reservoirs and between BIOTIC and ABIOTIC parts of the Earth

We alter the water cycle by:

Answer 11

We alter the water cycle by:
Withdrawing large amounts of freshwater.
Clearing vegetation and eroding soils.
Polluting surface and underground water.
Contributing to climate change.

Papa
Call
For
Vacation

Question 12

The Carbon Cycle

What’s so special about carbon?

Answer 12

What’s so special about carbon?
Basis of all organic molecules (carbs, proteins, DNA!)
Can bond to almost any other atom
Abundant in the human body (23%)

Question 13

The Carbon Cycle-4 interconnected deposits / reservoirs

Answer 13

The atmosphere 🡪 CO2
The Earth’s surface 🡪 plants, soil, non-living organic material
The ocean 🡪 dissolved inorganic C and marine life
The sediments buried in the Earth (fossil fuels)

C moves between reservoirs and between BIOTIC and ABIOTIC parts of the Earth

Question 14

Carbon cycles between biotic and abiotic forms
Photosythesis?
Cellular Respiration?

Answer 14

Photosynthesis: carbon dioxide+water Energy from Light glucose+oxygen
Cellular Respiration: glucose+oxygen=. carbon+water+energy

Question 15

Green plants take in atmospheric CO2 during…

Answer 15

photosynthesis

Question 16

Animals release corbon through

Answer 16

cellular respiration for energy 🡪 in the process release CO2

Question 17

Decomposers break down dead organic matter 🡪 in the process release CO2

Answer 17

cellular respiration

Question 18

Whithout decomposers the world would be

Answer 18

Without decomposers the world would become overrun with trash and dead carcasses

Question 19

Carbon is also stored in the form of (release how)

Answer 19

fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas, petroleum)
Combustion 🡪 releases CO2 back into the air

Question 20

CO2 gas is_____ in water 🡪 builds up as calcium carbonate in coral, rocks, shells and skeletons of marine organisms

Answer 20

dissolved

Question 21

Connections between the H2O and C cycles

Answer 21

H2O and C are found in the same places and involved in the same processes (eg. Photosynthesis)

Question 22

________the process of evaporation of H2O from plant surfaces

Answer 22

Transpiration