PHOSPHORUS BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE CHRISTINE BROWN SORAYA DAVILA HONNY

PHOSPHORUS BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE CHRISTINE BROWN &SORAYA DAVILA &HONNY WONG & MARY CHAVEZ

WHAT IS PHOSPHORUS? Phosphorus powder • Phosphorus is the 15 th element on the periodic table, represented by the letter “P”. • When pure it is colorless and transparent. • Phosphorus was discovered in 1669 by Brand, who prepared it from urine. Brand attempted to distill salts by evaporating urine.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND PHOSPHORUS? • Fertilizers • Animal effluent (Feces/Urine) • Natural weathering of rocks (basically erosion!)

CYCLE!

HOW DOES IT AFFECT WATER WAYS? • Phosphorus binds with soil and only dissolves slowly in water overtime. • These can include: Erosion Farm runoff (fertilizer) • Phosphorus “starves” streams of oxygen, thus affecting aquatic life in a negative manner.

WAYS TO MANAGE PHOSPHORUS IN WATERWAYS. Prevent direct application of fertilizer to waterways by: • Controlling runoff before it reaches the water. • Avoiding applying phosphate fertilizer if you know heavy rain is coming. • Trying to prevent overgrazing that can ultimately lead to erosion.

BENEFITS FOR HUMANS • Phosphorus is a mineral mostly stored in your bones, teeth, DNA and cell membranes. • It is important for many biochemical reactions such as converting the foods you eat into the energy your body needs every day. • Phosphorus also helps with muscle contraction, nerve and kidney functions.

FUN FACTS: • We must have phosphorus to live! • Holds DNA and RNA together • Chemical component for ATP • 80% of phosphorus is found in teeth in bones • Largest reservoir of phosphorus is in sedimentary rocks • Phosphorus in waterways encourage the growth of nuisance aquatic plants/algae.

WORKS CITED • "Geography 4 Kids. com: BGC Cycles: Phosphorus Cycle. " Rader's GEOGRAPHY 4 KIDS. COM. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http: //www. geography 4 kids. com/files/cycles_phosphorus. html>. • Jegtvig, By Shereen. "Phosphorus - What Is Phosphorus. " Nutrition About Nutrition and Diet. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http: //nutrition. about. com/od/nutrition 101/g/phosphorusglossary. htm>. • "Managing Farm Phosphorus. " EW Environment Waikato. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http: //www. ew. govt. nz/environmental-information/Land-andsoil/Managing-Land-Soil/Managing-farm-nutrients/Managing-farmphosphorus/>. • "Phosphorus Cycle. " The Environmental Literacy Council. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <http: //www. enviroliteracy. org/article. php/480. html>.