FLOW OF MATTER AND ENERGY

FOOD CHAIN

Atmosphere (CO2)

Producer  First Consumer (Primary)  second consumer (Secondary)  Third Consumer

Decomposer

Carbon is deconstructed by decomposer: some is released in gas form to atmosphere, some

is released in form of solid (minerals)

The carbon released in gas form to atmosphere is what plants use for photosynthesis.

Decomposer deconstructs the accumulated carbon (in complex form) into its original form
(minerals) which later is absorbed by plants for photosynthesis.

Carbon is transferred throughout the food chain. Eventually, all levels accumulate the
carbon into complex form.

Carbon is partially (not fully) transferred. The transfer of carbon becomes harder as level in
food chain goes up (according to trophic pyramid) because carbon needs to be accumulated
and the opportunity to feed themselves is also harder. Thus, consumers with higher trophic
level often go hunting for many times since if it’s only a one-time-hunting, the carbon intake
is not enough.

Producer  photosynthesis  requires sunlight, (gas) CO2, Water (H2O)  produces

Oxygen (O2), (solid) Glucose (C6H12O6)

Carbon sink: transform from gas form into solid form (CO2 is originally in gas form, absorbed
and used by plant for photosynthesis and becomes glucose (solid). Glucose can be in any
form and contained in plants’ body). Hence, carbon sinks and retains in plant.

CARBON CYCLE:

1. Adding; activities which release (increase) carbon:

- Decomposition (releases carbon to atmosphere)
- Combustion (any activity that involves burning will release carbon)
- Respiration
- Human activity (vehicles, fossil fuels, use of oil, deforestation)
2. Reducing; activities that reduce carbon:
- Photosynthesis (absorb CO2)

Greenhouse gas: gas that can entrap heat

NITROGEN CYCLE:

ASSIMILATION
Gas; contained in atmosphere

1. Nitrogen (in atmosphere)

2. Nitrogen fixation
3. Ammonification (happens in soil)
4. Nitrification (nitrite [nitribacter] + nitrate [nitrosomonas]) (happens in soil)
5. Assimilation: nitrogen (in form of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate) used by plants
6. Denitrification: convert the complex form of nitrogen so that it can be released back
to atmosphere

A. Adding (increase nitrogen):

- Denitrification
- Decomposition
- Human activity (must be specific)
B. Reducing (reduce nitrogen)
- Ammonification
- Nitrification

WATER CYCLE:

Starts in the sea;

https://

www.freedrinkingwater.com/resource-water-cycle-student-guide.htm

1. Evaporation
 The water cycle begins with evaporation. This is the stage where the heat from the
sun heats up the water on the surface from bodies of water such as rivers lakes and
oceans and turns it into a vapor or steam. This stage demonstrates how the earths
 main water bodies oceans lakes and river water, transforms from being a liquid to
water vapour, which moves through the hydrosphere into the atmosphere

2. Condensation
In this stage, we see water vapour in the air turn to liquid water. This happens when
water vapour reaches very high altitudes where it is very cold causing the water
vapour to turn ino very tiny droplets of ice and water. When these very small ice and
water particles come together they form clouds. this makes condensation very
important to the water cycle.

3. Precipitation
This is the stage in which water is released from the clouds as rain, hail or snow.
This occurs when there is so much condensed water that the air cannot hold it
anymore. The clouds get heavy and water falls down to the earth. This is the main
way in which water cycle returns its to the earth.

4. Sublimation
The next stage of the water cycle is sublimation. Sublimation is when precipitation
returns to the earth as snow or ice. Sublimation occurs when the snow/ice does not
melt, skipping the liquid phase, and instead coverts back to a gas state straight away
and evaporates.

A. Adding
- Run-off
- Evaporation
- Evapotranspiration (evaporation comes from breathing)

B. Reducing
- Precipitation