NEEDS OF ORGANISMSAll organisms need

more then just Energy95 percent of body is

made up of just 4 elements:HydrogenOxygenNitrogenCarbon

RECYCLING IN THE BIOSPHEREMatter is recycled in ecosystemsBiogeochemical cycles = chemicals

are passed from one organism to another (BIO), and also travel through air and soil (GEO).

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLESMatter can

cycle through the biosphere because elements are not “used up,” but are only transformed.

Carbon CycleOne of the most

important to humans because carbon is:one of the primary elements forming human tissues

necessary to plants, the basis of human food

Carbon CycleImportant to the

climate system :carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and methane (CH4 ) are greenhouse gases which help set global temperatures

Nitrogen CycleImportant cycle because:

nitrogen is a necessary nutrientnitrogen is part of acid rain

Phosphorus CycleImportant because:

Cannot be transferred from the ocean to plants very effectively.

Incorporated into many molecules essential for life such as ATP (Energy source) and backbone of DNA and RNA

CYCLES – NITROGEN, CARBON, AND PHOSPHOROUS

AIR

SOIL

LIFE

SUMMARY – VENN DIAGRAM

Carbon

Phosphorus

C & N

C, N, & P

C & P N & P

Nitrogen