Ecology – Water, Nitrogen and Carbon Cycles

Warm Up Questions: 1. What is the difference between BIOTIC and

ABIOTIC factors in the environment?2. What gas do plants give off as a result of

photosynthesis?3. What gas do animals give off as a result of

cellular respiration?

What is needed for life to occur?• All organisms are made mostly of 4 key

elements: CARBON, HYDROGEN, OXYGEN and NITROGEN

• Organisms need three things in order to live:

• WATER!• CARBON!• NITROGEN!• Carbon Cycle – we already know!

THE CARBON CYCLECarbon occurs in all living organisms in the forms of carbon

dioxide, carbohydrates (sugars like GLUCOSE) and starches), proteins & LIPIDS.

Photosynthesis – Photosynthesis is the process used by PLANTS containing green chlorophyll to use sunlight, carbon dioxide and WATER to form sugar (as glucose) and oxygen.

Cellular Respiration – Respiration is the process that most living organisms (including animals, plants, fungi and PROTISTS) use to break down GLUCOSE and OXYGEN (gas) to make ATP energy. The wastes formed are carbon DIOXIDE and WATER.

Nutrition – Living organisms contain a large quantity of carbon in the form of carbohydrates, proteins, etc. When one organism EATS another, the carbon is passed from one organism to another.

Decomposition – Almost all living organisms require oxygen. When decomposing bacteria and FUNGI break down dead organisms and their wastes such as FECES, they take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide into the ATMOSPHERE.

Combustion – The COMBUSTION of living matter produces CARBON DIOXIDE and WATER . 

THE CARBON CYCLE

Nitrogen Cycle!• Nitrogen is used in our bodies…

where???• 78% of the air is made of NITROGEN

GAS…• …however, we can’t use pure nitrogen

gas!

Nitrogen Cycle!Nitrogen gas forms about 78% of the atmosphere. However, no animals and few plants can use nitrogen in this gaseous form.In order for most organisms to use nitrogen, it must go through THE FIXATION PROCESS!Nitrogen Fixation: means that nitrogen is BONDED TO OTHER MOLECULES.As one organism eats another along the food CHAIN, the nitrogen passes from one organism to another.Animals also excrete nitrogenous wastes in urine. This passes down to the BACTERIA/DECOMPOSERS.DECOMPOSERS break down dead organisms and animal wastes. This process adds NITROGEN to soil, & some plants can use this. DECOMPOSERS also break down nitrogen in the soil and release it into the air as NITROGEN GAS.

Water Cycle!

Questions….What happens when you add a lot of

carbon dioxide to water????It becomes acidic!What are some ways that humans get

carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?Burning fossil fuels! (coal, oil, natural gas)How can humans affect the ecosystem over

time?

Questions1. On Earth, water cycles through the atmosphere,

oceans, land, and organisms. By what process does most of the water in plants return to the environment?

A. Evaporation from the rootsB. Condensation on the leavesC. Evaporation from the leavesD. Diffusion from the roots

2. Nitrogen compounds are a part of all organisms. What happens to the nitrogen in an organism after it dies?

A. It is destroyed by decompositionB. It is recycled and used by other organismsC. It remains trapped in the organism’s tissuesD. It is all used up by the time the organism dies.

POLLUTION-is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change.

• We have covered Nitrogen pollution a lot!

• What other types of pollution are there?

Ballast Water Pollution

Why is this ship unloading water?

When ships are empty, they need water added to help weigh them down (physics!!)

If they pick up water from the Chesapeake Bay and take it China, what could happen?

Ballast Water PollutionThere are

regulations for the management of where this water is released.

RegulationsThey help to keep

our waters clean!

Pollution RegulationsRead about

regulations for shipping and pollution.

Who regulates the ships?

Why do you think shipping is more “green” than other forms of transport?

Pollution RegulationsWhy do you think

shipping is more “green” than other forms of transport?

1 ship vs. MANY trucks!