Nutrient Cycle How are Every living organism needs

Nutrient Cycle • How are • Every living organism needs nutrients to build tissues and carry out essential important life functions. Like water, nutrients in living are passed between organisms and systems? the environment through biogeochemical cycles. • In many ecosystems, nutrients are often in short supply. • Nutrient cycling prevents many chemicals from reaching toxic concentrations.

• Nutrients • All the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life are its nutrients. • Three nutrient cycles play prominent roles in the biosphere: – The carbon cycle – The Nitrogen cycle – The phosphorous cycle

The Carbon Cycle • What are • There are four different kinds of the four processes involved in the carbon cycle. processes involved in 1. Biological processes such as the carbon photosynthesis, respiration, eating and cycle? decomposition of plants and animals. 2. Geochemical processes such as the release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by volcanoes.

3. Mixed biogeochemical processes such as the burial of carbon-rich remains of organisms and their conversion into coal and petroleum by the pressure of the overlying earth. 4. Human activity, including mining, the burning of fossil fuels, and the cutting and burning of forest. • Human activity causing ozone depletion and global warming.

The Carbon Cycle CO 2 in Atmosphere CO 2 in oceans