ECOLOGY

ECOLOGY – S5
STRUCTURE – PART 1

• BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• GASEOUS CYCLES

• SEDIMENTARY CYCLES

ECOLOGY – S5
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE

• CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES ARE

PRESENT IN THE BIOSPHERE.

• SOMETIMES IN LARGE
RESERVOIRS FOR LONG
PERIODS OF TIME.

• THE PATHWAY OF TRANSFER

OF THESE SUBSTANCES
THROUGH THE BIOSPHERE,
ATMOSPHERE, LITHOSPHERE &
HYDROSPHERE.

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeochemical_cycle
NUTRIENT
CYCLING

• THE MAIN ACTIVITY

OCCURRING DURING A
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE.

• THE ORGANIC & INORGANIC

MATTER PRODUCED DURING
ANY PROCESS IN AN
ECOSYSTEM, IS RETURNED IN
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER; BACK
TO THE PRODUCTION OF
MATTER.

• EG: COMPOSTING IN FARMS

USES AGRICULTURAL WASTE,
BROKEN DOWN BY
DETRIVORES; AS FERTILIZER
FOR THE NEXT SET OF CROPS.
ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeochemical_cycle
COMPOSITION & BIOMES

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE

GASEOUS CYCLE : SEDIMENTARY

CYCLE:
• CARBON CYCLE
• PHOSPHOROUS
• NITROGEN CYCLE
CYCLE
• SULPHUR CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeochemical_cycle
STRUCTURE – PART 1

• BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• GASEOUS CYCLES

• SEDIMENTARY CYCLES

ECOLOGY – S5
GASEOUS CYCLE

• THE RESERVOIR FOR THE

NUTRIENT OR CHEMICAL IS
THE ATMOSPHERE OR THE
OCEANS.

• THE CYCLE MOVES RAPIDLY

AS OPPOSED TO
SEDIMENTARY.

• CAN MAKE UP FOR CHANGES

IN THE BIOSPHERE DUE TO
LARGE VOLUMES OF AIR.

• EG: LARGE ACCUMULATION

OF CARBON DIOXIDE ARE
DISSIPATED BY WINDS.

ECOLOGY – S5 https://www.britannica.com/science/biogeochemical-cycle#ref160092
GASEOUS CYCLE

TYPES OF GASEOUS CYCLES:

• CARBON CYCLE

• NITROGEN CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5
CARBON CYCLE

• CARBON IS THE MAJOR

COMPONENT OF ALL BIOLOGICAL
COMPONENTS.

• KEY TO ENSURE LIFE ON EARTH.

• DISCOVERED BY JOSEPH PRIESTLY,

ANTOINE LAVOISIER & HUMPHRY
DAVY.

• THE MOVEMENT OF CARBON

THROUGH THE BIOSPHERE,
ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE &
LITHOSPHERE.

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_cycle
CARBON CYCLE
RESERVOIRS OF CARBON

• ATMOSPHERE – CO2 & METHANE

THROUGH EMISSIONS &
RESPIRATION.

• TERRESTRIAL BIOSPHERE –
ABSORBED BY PLANTS FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS, AND IS
TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE FOOD
CHAIN.

• OCEAN – DISSOLVED CARBON

DIOXIDE USED FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
AND ABSORBED VIA THE MARINE
FOOD CHAIN.

• EARTH’S INTERIOR – CARBON

PRESENT WITHIN FOR MILLIONS OF
YEARS DUE TO DEAD AND DECAYING
MATTER.
ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_cycle
https://www.ck12.org/biology/carbon-cycle/lesson/Carbon-Cycle-BIO/
NITROGEN CYCLE

• NITROGEN FLOWS FROM

ATMOSPHERE THROUGH
TERRESTRIAL MARINE
ECOSYSTEMS, AND BACK TO THE
ATMOSPHERE.

• MULTIPLE PROCESSES ARE

INVOLVED IN THE CYCLE, AS
ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN CANNOT
DIRECTLY UTILIZED BY ALL
LIVING ORGANISMS.

• THE NITROGEN CYCLE AFFECTS

MAJOR PROCESSES WITHIN THE
ECOSYSTEM SUCH AS PRIMARY
PRODUCTION & DECOMPOSITION.

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

PROCESSES INVOLVED

• NITROGEN FIXATION

• NITROGEN ASSIMILATION

• AMMONIFICATION

• NITRIFICATION

• DENITRIFICATION

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

NITROGEN GAS
IN ATMOSPHERE
NITROGEN FIXATION
FIXATION
• NITROGEN GAS IS CONVERTED TO
NITRATES, BY NITROGEN FIXING
BACTERIA FOUND IN SOIL.

• AZOTOBACTER WHICH IS FREE

LIVING. NITRATES
IN SOIL

• RHIZOBIUM FOUND IN THE ROOTS

OF LEGUMES.

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

NITROGEN GAS
IN ATMOSPHERE
NITROGEN ASSIMILATION
FIXATION
• NITRATES ARE ABSORBED BY
PLANTS, AND CONVERTED TO
NITRITES
NITRITES. IN PLANTS & ANIMALS

ASSIMILATION
• THESE ARE USED IN
CHLOROPHYLL & AMINO ACIDS. NITRATES
IN SOIL

• THIS CAN FURTHER BE CONSUMED

BY ANIMALS.

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

NITROGEN GAS
IN ATMOSPHERE

AMMONIFICATION FIXATION

• NITRATES FROM PLANTS OR

NITRITES
ANIMALS ARE CONVERTED TO IN PLANTS & ANIMALS
AMMONIA & FURTHER INTO
ASSIMILATION
AMMONIUM IONS AFTER DEATH.
NITRATES
IN SOIL
• ALSO PRODUCED FROM ANIMAL AMMONIFICATION
WASTE
AMMONIUM
DECAY OR EXCREMENT
IN SOIL

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

NITROGEN GAS
IN ATMOSPHERE
NITRIFICATION
FIXATION
• CONVERSION OF AMMONIUM TO
NITRATES.
NITRITES
IN PLANTS & ANIMALS
• THESE NITRATES ARE WITHER
ASSIMILATION
ABSORBED BY PLANTS OR
UNDERGO DENITRIFICATION. NITRATES
IN SOIL
AMMONIFICATION
• NITRIFYING BACTERIA – NITRIFICATION
NITROSOMONAS & NITROBACTER.
AMMONIUM
DECAY OR EXCREMENT
IN SOIL

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

NITROGEN GAS
IN ATMOSPHERE
DENITRIFICATION
FIXATION DENITRIFICATION
• CONVERSION OF NITRATES TO
NITROGEN GAS.
NITRITES
IN PLANTS & ANIMALS
• NITROGEN IS RETURNED TO THE
ASSIMILATION
ATMOSPHERE.
NITRATES
IN SOIL
• DENITRIFYING BACTERIA – AMMONIFICATION
PSEUDOMONAS & CLOSTRIDIUM IN NITRIFICATION
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS.
AMMONIUM
DECAY OR EXCREMENT
IN SOIL

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
NITROGEN CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle
STRUCTURE – PART 1

• BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• GASEOUS CYCLES

• SEDIMENTARY CYCLES

ECOLOGY – S5
SEDIMENTARY CYCLE

• THE RESERVOIR FOR THE

NUTRIENT OR CHEMICAL IS
THE EARTH’S CRUST.

• THESE VARY FROM ONE

ELEMENT TO THE OTHER, BUT
CONSIST OF A WATER
RELATED AND A SEDIMENT
PHASE.

• THE WATER PHASE RESULTS IN

SALT DEPOSITION IN THE
OCEANS THROUGH
ORGANISMS.

• THE SEDIMENT PHASE HAS

DIRECT SALT DEPOSITION IN
SHALLOW SEAS.
ECOLOGY – S5 https://www.britannica.com/science/biogeochemical-cycle#ref160092

• SLOWER THAN GASEOUS

SEDIMENTARY CYCLE

TYPES OF SEDIMENTARY CYCLES:

• PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE

• SULPHUR CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5
PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE

• THE PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE IS

FOCUSED MAINLY IN THE AQUATIC
& TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM,
WITH VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT
THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE.

• THE PHOSPHOROUS IS MAINLY

OBTAINED THROUGH MINERAL
DEPOSITION IN THE GEOLOGICAL
STRATA.

• 80% OF THE PHOSPHOROUS WHICH

IS MINED IS USED FOR PHOSPHATE
BASED FERTILIZERS.

• EXCESS USE OF PHOSPHATES CAN

LEAD TO RUN OFF INTO WATER
BODIES AND RESULT IN
EUTROPHICATION.
ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus_cycle
PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5 https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/The-Phosphorus-Cycle/197
PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE
PROCESSES

• WEATHERING OF PHOSPHOROUS IN
ROCKS INTO PHOSPHATES IN THE
SOIL. PHOSPHOROUS
IN ROCKS

• PHOSPHATES ABSORBED BY WEATHERING

PLANTS, AND FURTHER ANIMALS SEDIMENTATION

THROUGH FOOD CHAIN.
PHOSPHATES
• PHOSPHATES LEACHED INTO THE IN PLANTS & ANIMALS

WATER BODIES – CAN CAUSE ABSORPTION DECAY

EUTROPHICATION.
PHOSPHATES
IN SOIL
PHOSPHATES
WATER BODIES
• DEAD AND DECAYING ORGANIC
LEACHING
MATTER RETURN PHOSPHATES TO
SOIL. ALSO ABSORBED FROM
WATER BODIES. ABSORPTION

• PHOSPHATES UNDERGO
SEDIMENTATION TO BECOME PART
ECOLOGY
OF – S5 FORMATION.
THE ROCK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus_cycle
PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5 https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/The-Phosphorus-Cycle/197
SULPHUR CYCLE

• THE SULPHUR CYCLE MOVES

SULPHUR TO AND FROM ROCK,
WATERWAYS AND LIVING SYSTEMS.

• SULPHUR PLAYS AN IMPORTANT

ROLE IN THE PRODUCTION OF
FOSSIL FUELS.

• EXCESS BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS

RESULTS IN THE DISCHARGE OF
SULPHUR INTO THE BIOSPHERE
WHICH CAN ACT AS A POLLUTANT.

• SULPHUR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

ACID RAIN, WHICH ALWAYS
OCCURS. HOWEVER IF THE
CONCENTRATION OF SULPHURIC
ACID INCREASES, IT CAN HAVE
HARMFUL EFFECTS.
ECOLOGY – S5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_cycle
SULPHUR CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5 https://www.wur.nl/en/show/The-use-of-the-sulfur-cycle-for-the-removal-of-metals-and-Scompounds.htm
SULPHUR CYCLEPROCESSES
• SULPHUR MIXES WITH THE OCEAN
WATER, WHICH MIXES WITH AIR AS
SULPHUR DIOXIDE.
SULPHURIC ACID
• SULPHUR CAN ALSO BE RELEASED IN ATMOSPHERE
AS SULPHUR DIOXIDE THROUGH
INDUSTRIES (FOSSIL FUELS) & MIXING WITH
VOLCANOES. WATER VAPOUR
ACID RAIN ACID RAIN

• SULPHATES ABSORBED BY PLANTS, SULPHUR

SULPHUR DIOXIDE
AND FURTHER ANIMALS THROUGH DIOXIDE IN OCEANS
FOOD CHAIN. IN ATMOSPHERE SULPHATES
IN PLANTS & ANIMALS
• DEAD AND DECAYING ORGANIC LEACHING
MATTER RETURN SULPHATES TO ABSORPTION DECAY
SOIL. ALSO ABSORBED FROM
VOLCANOES
WATER BODIES. 0R
INUSTRIES SULPHUR
IN ROCKS
• SULPHUR DIOXIDE MIXES WITH
WATER VAPOUR TO FORM
ECOLOGY – S5ACID, WHICH RETURNS
SULPHURIC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_cycle
SULPHUR CYCLE

ECOLOGY – S5 https://www.wur.nl/en/show/The-use-of-the-sulfur-cycle-for-the-removal-of-metals-and-Scompounds.htm
STRUCTURE – PART 1

• BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

• GASEOUS CYCLES

• SEDIMENTARY CYCLES

ECOLOGY – S5
STRUCTURE – PART 2

• IMPACT OF MAN ON NUTRIENT

CYCLES

ECOLOGY – S5
IMPACT OF MAN ON GASEOUS CYCLES

CLASSWORK

• IDENTIFY THE IMPACT OF MAN ON EACH NUTRIENT CYCLE AS A CLASS

(WHOEVER IS PRESENT AND AWAKE).

• LIST OUT THE EFFECTS OF THESE IMPACTS. IF THEY ARE NEGATIVE, HOW
CAN THEY BE CORRECTED?

• SUBMISSION IS ONE A5 PIECE OF PAPER, WITH DATA NEATLY WRITTEN IN

POINTS.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/environmental-limits-to-population-growth/
ECOLOGY – S5 https://cbs.umn.edu/research/labs/lionresearch/research/population-regulation
STRUCTURE – PART 2

• IMPACT OF MAN ON NUTRIENT

CYCLES

ECOLOGY – S5
 ECOLOGY

ECOLOGY – S5