Water Cycle

The water cycle involves the processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, percolation and runoff.

BrainPOP: Water Cycle

Percolation

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon moves between organisms and their physical environment.

BrainPOP: Carbon Cycle

Producers take in CO 2 during photosynthesis .

CO 2 CO 2 Plants and animals release CO 2 to the atmosphere during cellular respiration .

CO 2 CO 2 CO When fossil fuels are burned , CO atmosphere.

2 is released into the 2 CO 2 Consumers animals.

take in carbon when they eat plants or other When plants and animals die, decomposers break down their remains, releasing CO 2 into the atmosphere and soil.

After millions of years of being buried in the Earth, dead plant and animal matter becomes fossil fuels (oil/coal).

What are decomposers?

Organisms that break down dead plant and animal matter.

Ex: bacteria, fungi, earthworms

Other natural ways carbon is released into the atmosphere…

Volcanic eruptions and forest fires Adventures of Carbon Dude

Carbon sinks (absorbers) Plants Ocean Atmosphere Soil Carbon sources (releasers) Animals Decomposers Volcanic activity Deforestation Burning fossil fuels

How humans affect the carbon cycle…

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Burning fossil fuels is releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.

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Deforestation removes trees that absorb carbon and the fire releases carbon dioxide.

So, more carbon is being released now than is being absorbed!!

Exit Slip (carbon cycle)

1. During the carbon cycle, by which process do producers (plants) obtain carbon from their environment?

2. How do consumers (animals) get the carbon they need?

3. When organisms die, what other type of organism breaks down their remains to return carbon into the soil and air?

Oxygen Cycle

The process by which oxygen is recycled through ecosystems .

O 2 O 2 O 2 Plants produce and release oxygen during photosynthesis O 2 O 2 O 2 O 2 O 2 Animals take in O 2 from air or water

The ocean also plays a BIG role in the carbon and oxygen cycles! There is 50 times MORE carbon in the ocean than in the atmosphere!

Marine plants (such as algae) are responsible for producing HALF the oxygen that we breathe!

Questions

4. Explain how the cycles work together to keep a balance of oxygen and carbon on Earth.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process by which nitrogen is recycled in an ecosystem.

BrainPOP: Nitrogen Cycle

“Free” nitrogen falls to the Earth in precipitation Free nitrogen is converted into a usable form by bacteria on plant roots in a process called nitrogen fixation.

Decomposers return nitrogen to the atmosphere and soil through waste and decay.

The usable nitrogen can now be absorbed by the plants Animals get nitrogen from eating the plants or by eating other animals that ate the plants

What is the source of energy for all cycles in nature?

5. Describe what must happen to nitrogen gas (“free” nitrogen) before organisms are able to use it.