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| Ecology Notes 2 Section 2-2 |
| Cycles in Matter: |
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| -Matter, in the form of chemicals, flows in cycles from the nonliving part of the environment to the living things and back again. Matter can be reused and recycled. A. Four important Cycles of Matter 1. Water 2. Oxygen 3. Carbon 4. Nitrogen a. Water Cycle is a continuous cycle that occurs between the Earth's surface and atmosphere. Step 1: Water on Earth is heated by the sun and evaporation occurs. Step 2: The water changes from a liquid to a gas. Step 3: The water cools and condenses into liquid droplets Step 4: The droplets form clouds and fall back to the Earth as precipitation. Step 5: The cycle repeats itself. b. Oxygen / Carbon Cycle are interconnected together because what one organism breaths in is what what another organism breaths out. Step 1: People and animals produce carbon dioxide when they exhale. Step 2: Producers use carbon dioxide along with water, and energy from the sun to make food. Step 3: Oxygen is produced during this food-making process which is released in the atmosphere. c. Nitrogen Cycle: All living things need nitrogen (N2). 78% of the atmosphere is "free" nitrogen and bacteria is able to use this to help return nutrients back to the environemnt. Step 1: Decomposers break down complex nitrogen compounds in dead organisms and animal wastes. Step 2: Nitrogen compounds are returned to the soil. Step 3: Bacteria uses the nitrogen compounds to make nitrates. Certain kinds of bacteria break down nitrogen compounds to produce free nitrogen which is released in the air. |