Area IIE: The Living World

Natural Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical Cycles Biogeochemical cycles: how nutrients cycle through biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems
involve soil, atmosphere, and organisms examples: C and N cycles

Fig. 4-28 Hydrologic cycle

Condensation Transpiration Precipitation to land Precipitation Runoff Transpiration from plants Evaporation

Rain clouds

Precipitation Evaporation from land Evaporation from ocean

Surface runoff (rapid)

Precipitation to ocean

Infiltration and Percolation Groundwater movement (slow)

Surface runoff (rapid)

Ocean storage

4-7 Matter Cycling in Ecosystems Water cycles chemically unchanged

natural renewal of water quality human interference

1. we use of large amounts of fresh water 2. we increase runoff 3. we modify water quality 4. we are speeding the water cycle (?) by increasing global temperatures (?)

Water cycle

Fig. 4-29a Carbon cycle

Diffusion between atmosphere and ocean

Carbon dioxide dissolved in ocean water

Combustion of fossil fuels

photosynthesi aerobic respiration s

Marine food webs Producers, consumers, decomposers, detritivores death, incorporatio sedimentation n into sediments uplifting over geologic time sedimentation

Marine sediments, including formations with fossil fuels

Figure 4-29b Carbon cycle

Atmosphere (most carbon is in carbon dioxide)

Combustion of fossil fuels

volcanic action

photosynthesis
Terrestrial rocks

combustion of wood (for aerobic clearing land; or for fuel respiration

weathering

Land food webs producers, consumers, decomposers, detritivores

sedimentation

Soil water (dissolved carbon) leaching runoff death, burial, compaction over geologic time

Peat, fossil fuels

Biogeochemical Cycles The carbon cycle is based on CO2 in the atmosphere

CO2 in atmosphere plants make organic matter through photosynthesis autotrophs and heterotrophs use organic matter through respiration and release CO2 if respiration exceeds photosynthesis, CO2 increases: greenhouse effect human interference

1. we clear trees and plants 2. we add large amounts of CO2 to atmosphere

Carbon cycle

Carbon cycle

Fig. 4-30 Human interference in C cycle

14 13 CO2 emissions from fossil fuel (billion metric tons of carbon equivalent) High projection

12
11

10 9 8 7 6 Low projection

5
4 3 2 1

0 1850

1900

1950 Year

2000

2030

Fig. 4-31 Nitrogen cycle

2004 Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning

Gaseous Nitrogen (N2) in Atmosphere Nitrogen Fixation

by industry for agriculture

Food Webs On Land

uptake by autotrophs excretion, death, decomposition uptake by autotrophs

Fertilizers

Nitrogen Fixation
bacteria convert N2 to ammonia (NH3) ; this dissolves to form ammonium (NH4+)

Nitrogenous Wastes, Remains In Soil

NO3 in soil

Denitrification
by bacteria

Ammonification NH3, NH4+ in soil

bacteria, fungi convert the residues to NH3 , this dissolves to form NH4+

2. Nitrification
bacteria convert NO2- to nitrate (NO3-)

loss by leaching

1. Nitrification
bacteria convert NH4+ to nitrate (NO2)

NO2 in soil

loss by leaching

Biogeochemical Cycles The nitrogen cycle depends largely on bacteria

N2 NH3 NO2- and NO3ammonia nitrite nitrate human interference

1. we add NO to the air when we burn fuel it can become NO2 and then HNO3, causing acid rain 2. we add N2O to the atmosphere indirectly through the action of bacteria on livestock waste and fertilizers

Biogeochemical Cycles

human interference, cont.

3. we release nitrogen stored in soils and plants into atmosphere by removing trees 4. we upset aquatic ecosystems by adding excess nitrates in agricultural runoff and sewage systems 5. remove nitrogen from topsoil when harvesting, irrigating, or burn or clear grasslands or crops 6. we are affecting biodiversity

Fig. 4-32 Human interference in N cycle

Global nitrogen (N) fixation (trillion grams)

200

150

Nitrogen fixation by natural processes 100

50

1920

1940

1960 Year

1980

2000

Nitrogen cycle

Fig. 4-33 Phosphorus cycle

mining excretion GUANO

FERTILIZER agriculture

uptake by autotrophs MARINE FOOD WEBS

weathering

uptake by autotrophs leaching, runoff DISSOLVED IN SOIL WATER, LAKES, RIVERS death, decomposition LAND FOOD WEBS

DISSOLVED IN OCEAN WATER death, decomposition

sedimentation

settling out uplifting over geologic time

weathering

MARINE SEDIMENTS

ROCKS

Biogeochemical Cycles The phosphorus cycle does not move through the atmosphere

human interference
1. we mine phosphate rock to make fertilizer 2. we reduce phosphate availability in tropics by cutting tropical forests 3. we add phosphates to runoff and disrupt aquatic systems

Phosphorus cycle

Fig. 4-34 Sulfur cycle

Water Sulfur trioxide Sulfuric acid Ammonia Oxygen Sulfur dioxide Hydrogen sulfide Plants Volcano Ammonium sulfate Acidic fog and precipitation

Dimethyl sulfide

Industries

Animals

Ocean

Sulfate salts Metallic sulfide deposits Decaying matter Hydrogen sulfide Sulfur

Biogeochemical Cycles The sulfur cycle

human interference
we add sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the atmosphere by: 1. burning coal and oil to generate electricity 2. refining oil to make gasoline and other petroleum products 3. converting sulfur-containing ores into free metals