The Phosphorous Cycle Section 4 5 The Phosphorous

The Phosphorous Cycle Section 4. 5

The Phosphorous Cycle • Uses of phosphorous by organisms: – Phosphorous, like nitrogen and carbon, is an important element needed by organisms.

The Phosphorous Cycle • Cell membranes: – They are made of a phospholipid bilayer in all cells.

The Phosphorous Cycle • Hard tissues: – Shells, bones and teeth all contain phosphorous.

The Phosphorous Cycle • Nucleic acids: – The “side rails” of DNA and RNA contain phosphorous.

The Phosphorous Cycle • ATP – adenosine triphosphate: – A high energy molecule (produced during cellular respiration). – It stores all energy for living things.

The Phosphorous Cycle • The element phosphorous:

The Phosphorous Cycle • Where do we get phosphorous? – The Earth’s crust: • It’s stored in rocks, • It gets released when rocks weather and erode. • Phosphate (PO 4) is released and dissolves in water.

The Phosphorous Cycle • Where do we get phosphorous? – Rivers and runoff • It gets carried from the surface of the land by runoff into rivers and oceans. (runoff/leaching)

The Phosphorous Cycle • Where do we get phosphorous? – Humans • It’s in artificial fertilizers (they contain N, P and K). • It’s in animal manure. • It’s in outflows from sewage plants. • It’s in industrial wastes.

The Phosphorous Cycle • The short phosphorous cycle: – Organisms die and decompose. – Decomposers release phosphates into the soil. – Phosphates dissolve in water. – Producers (plants) take in dissolved phosphates through their roots.

The Phosphorous Cycle • The long phosphorous cycle: – Plants and animals die. – Phosphates in their bodies sink to the ocean floor. – The phosphates become covered in sediment layers. – The layers turn into sedimentary rock. – Geological uplifting exposes the rock to weathering that releases the phosphates into the soil.