Nutrient Cycles What nutrients are essential for life

Nutrient Cycles What nutrients are essential for life? _______________

Carbon cycle Carbon is the most abundant element on earth, it moves through the earth’s spheres in many forms Carbon dioxide (CO 2) gas moves from _______ and ________ and back again through photosynthesis and __________ respiration CO 2 also moves back to the atmosphere when organisms _____and their ______ decompose CO 2 continually leaves the atmosphere when it is __________ into the hydrosphere where it then becomes available to aquatic organisms

Stored Carbon In _______ tissues of long-living _______ Carbon dissolves in the _______ which act as a huge_________for carbon In slowly decomposing organisms that become deeply buried in the __________ This is the carbon that becomes _________________________

Human impact Amount of CO 2 _____ in photosynthesis and _______ by respiration is the same so CO 2 is balanced However, when we ______ trees, coal, oil, natural gas for fuel, the carbon stored in these sources is _______ into the air as CO 2 gas This upsets the balance We also have cut down many trees for houses, cities, agriculture, furniture and paper so there are fewer trees that can use the extra CO 2 for photosynthesis

Human impact Extra CO 2 builds up in the ________ and helps trap _______ in the atmosphere CO 2 gas adds to __________ warming (an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface) and ________ change (a long-term change in earth’s climate) Climate change can be caused by natural factors and is accelerated _______________

Greenhouse Affect - - Various greenhouse gases in troposphere trap escaping _________radiation from the sun (heat energy) Such as CO 2, H 20 (______), CH 4, CFC’s, N 2 0 This is a _______process Human activities put ______ of these gases into atmosphere ________ the amount of heat absorbed in atmosphere

Human Activities influencing Green House Gases in Atmosphere

Effects of excess Carbon Earth’s surface temperature has increased between 0. 56 o. C and 0. 92 o. C in the past _____ years Small change but big deal because Earth’s climate is a system So a change is one aspect (temperature) result in changes to other aspects such as precipitation levels, _________ patterns, storm severity Other: ______________________

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND/OR GLOBAL WARMING

Severe Storms Cat. 5 Hurricane Tropical Storm Cyclone Tornado

Task read additional notes • Complete questions that follow • Use notes/internet

Nitrogen cycle Nitrogen is used by organisms to make ________ It makes up ____of the air but most living things can’t use nitrogen (N 2) gas from the air We depend on certain bacteria, called _________ bacteria, in the soil and water to change nitrogen into forms that ___________ can use (ammonium (NH 4+), nitrite ( NO 2 -) and nitrate (NO 3 -)) __________ also plays a roll in converting N 2 gas in the air into nitrates. The process by which bacteria/lightning change N 2 gas into NH 4+ is called ___________ fixation.

Other nitrogen processes Nitrogen fixation by lightning and bacteria Nitrification – chemical change in soil from NH 4+ to __________ Plant uptake – of _______and ________ to incorporate Nitrogen into DNA and Proteins Denitrification – denitrifying bacteria change NO 3 - Back into _________________ Decomposition – of dead plants and animal waste by decomposers return ____________ to soil Dissolving ___________ into water Ingestion of plants containing nitrogen containing molecules by ____________

Human impact We dramatically increase nitrogen in the atmosphere by burning _____________(emits nitrogen oxides and ammonia – NO, NO 2, NH 3) – these substances mix with water in clouds to produce __________- HNO 3 Farmers and gardeners use _________ (contains nitrates) to enhance the __________ of their plants but not all the nitrogen in the fertilizers is used and some stays in the ________ When the soil is watered or it rains, excess nitrates are carried to ponds, rivers, lakes, oceans which can cause an _______________ (Eutrophication)

Phosphorus cycle Phosphorus is used by organisms as they ___________________ When rocks are broken down due to _______ and erosion, phosphorus is released into the soil and water Plants ________the phosphorus and animals obtain it when they eat the plants or other animals that eat the plants Usable forms of phosphorus are __________ (PO 43 - HPO 42 - and H 2 PO 4 -)

Phosphorus cycle ___________return phosphorus to the soil and water as they break down dead organisms

Human impact Phosphates are another main ingredient in fertilizer Excess phosphorus in ________ leads to algae overgrowth and the death of aquatic organisms Phosphates are also found in ________________________ In Canada, cleaners that contain more than 0. 5% of phosphorus are banned Human ________ contains high levels of phosphorus _______ of phosphorus from deep underground rocks increases available phosphorus

Poster - You and Earth’s Cycles – Do in Pairs! How do you fit into and affect each nutrient cycle? Create a visual representation of each of the 3 nutrient cycles and the water cycle and show you fit into each cycle and how you impact it. For each Nutrient cycle 1. Label Key Processes that drive each cycle 2. Show/explain the role the water cycle plays in each nutrient cycle 3. Show/explain how human actions are impacting/changing the balance in these cycles Answer the following How do your actions/lifestyle impact each cycle? How could you change your actions/lifestyle to reduce your impact on the cycles?