Cycles of Nature: The Carbon Cycle

1. Cycles of Nature: The Carbon Cycle • Carbon is the building blocks of life (Organic!) • CO2= Carbon Dioxide • Living things take in Oxygen and give off CO2 through Aerobic or Cell Respiration. • Plants take in CO2through photosynthesis and produce Oxygen. • Organisms contain the most carbon in the Carbon cycle. • As organisms die and enter the soil, they eventually become fuel over millions of years (“fossil fuels.”) • Natural Processes of Volcanoes give off CO2

2. How Humans affect the Carbon Cycle • Greenhouse Gases • Excess CO2in the atmosphere acts as a trap for heat and water vapor. • Global Warming • Warming of the Earth causes ice caps to melt, causing the ocean to change temperature and salinity, raising sea levels, changing climate & weather. • Deforestation and Habitat Destruction • Without Trees to undergo photosynthesis to convert CO2 to Oxygen, Carbon levels will continue to rise. • Removal of trees also harms biodiversity (the amount of different organisms) and habitats for organisms.

4. Cycles of Nature: The Water Cycle • Evaporation – Water taken into the atmosphere • Transpiration – Plants losing water through leaves • Precipitation – Water that falls from the atmosphere (rain, snow, hail, etc) • Runoff – Water that enters the ocean • Groundwater – Water that is absorbed into the ground • Water vapor is also given off by volcanic eruptions. • The Water Cycle helps cool the Earth preventing large changes in Global Temperatures.

5. How Humans affect the Water Cycle • Human Use of Water: • Agriculture • Dams and Deforestation • Urbanization (Living in Cities) • Overuse of Aquifers • Saltwater Intrusion • Subsidence • Clean Water supply • 1 billion people (16%) do not have any access to clean water. • Can cause outbreaks of disease(cholera, hepatitis) • Acid Rain • Hurts plants, animals and buildings

6. Cycles of Nature: The Nitrogen Cycle • 78% of the air is Nitrogen • Plants use nitrogen in their cellular processes • Nitrogen is present in our DNA and RNA and in amino acids (proteins). • The food chain largely moves Nitrogen around. • Bacteria and Lightning takes Nitrogen gas and puts into a useable form (called Nitrogen Fixation) • Bacteria have a mutualisitic relationship with plants and live on their roots.

8. How Humans affect the Nitrogen Cycle • Humans contribute extra Nitrogen in the cycle due to fertilizers and animal waste (hog lagoons) that runoff into in the lakes and rivers. • Extra Nitrogen in the groundwater can interfere with blood/oxygen levels and cause blue-baby syndrome. • Excess Nitrogen can cause Eutrophication which causes aquatic life to die due to the low levels of oxygen. (fish kills) • High levels of ammonia is also toxic to animals.

9. Concluding Questions about Cycles • Name and describe two ways humans affect the Carbon Cycle? • How do decomposers affect the Nitrogen Cycle? • How does excessive use of fertilizers affect the Nitrogen Cycle? • How do humans affect the Water Cycle?

10. Ecological Succession How do ecosystems change over time?

11. Define Ecological Succession

12. How does Succession occur

13. Types of Ecological Succession

14. How does Primary Successon Occur

15. Results of Primary Succession

17. Can a natural disaster cause succession? YES

18. Can a natural disaster cause succession? • Yes called SECONDARY SUCCESSION • Re growth of a community after a natural disaster (flood, fire, hurricane, or the clearing away of land, etc.) has happened • Main difference between secondary and primary succession is that the SOIL is already present and does not have to be created again

19. Secondary Succession

20. Secondary Succession • Soil is enriched by dead plant and animal life that is there • Annual plants, grasses, some animal life PIONEER SPECIES • Taller grasses, shrubs, soft and hardwood trees more complex animal life INTERMEDIATE SPECIES • Mature hardwood trees,plant life with diverse animal life CLIMAX COMMUNITY • Re-growth happens faster due to the soil being present.

21. Comparing Primary and Secondary Succession Primary Secondary Soil is already present Occurs after a natural disaster or clearing away of already present land Takes a shorter time to establish a climax community • Breakdown of rock must occur in order to form soil • Occurs on barren or newly formed land • Takes a longer to reach a climax community

22. Succession in Water

24. Water Succession • Occurs when lakes or ponds begin to change over time to land areas • Over many years erosion of the land pulls sediment and soil to the bottom of the pond or lakes floor or death of organisms in the water system may occur. • Animals begin to lose resources as the water system gets filled up with sediment, soil, and decaying animals. They may begin to die. New types of plant life begin to emerge while others die. Animals that can survive and live in the new area now inhabit that area. • Over time plant and animal life in the community changes in the land area and a new climax community is established. • Takes many years to happen as well

25. Answer the following Summary Questions • How long does succession take? • Two types of ecological succession are… • First species to develop in succession are… • Primary succession occurs on… • Secondary succession occurs on… • Water succession occurs when…