Let’s play a game!

4 pics 1 word
answer: oxygen
answer: carbon
answer: air
answer: atmosphere
answer: plants
Cycling Matter in an
Ecosystem
Carbon/Oxygen Cycle Water Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle Phosphorus Cycle
THE CARBON DIOXIDE-
OXYGEN CYCLE
Learning Objectives

 describe the properties of oxygen and carbon

dioxide
 recognize the flow of carbon and oxygen
cycle
 compose a short poem about the importance
of oxygen and carbon dioxide
THE CARBON DIOXIDE- OXYGEN
CYCLE

The oxygen cycle and the carbon dioxide cycle

(carbon cycle) are two of the biogeochemical
cycles on Earth that make life possible. They
act separately but are dependent on each other
because the carbon cycle gives off oxygen for
the oxygen cycle to use, and in turn, the
oxygen cycle emits carbon dioxide (CO2)
which goes back into the carbon cycle.
THE CARBON DIOXIDE
CYCLE
What Is Carbon?

 An element

 The basis of life of earth

 Found in rocks, oceans, atmosphere

Carbon Cycle

 The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly

on earth. They cycle between the earth and
the atmosphere.
Plants Use Carbon Dioxide

 Plants pull carbon dioxide from the

atmosphere and use it to make food –—
photosynthesis.
 The carbon becomes part of the plant (stored
food).
Animals Eat Plants

 When organisms eat plants, they take in the

carbon and some of it becomes part of their
own bodies.
Plants and Animals Die

 When plants and animals die, most of their

bodies are decomposed and carbon atoms are
returned to the atmosphere.

 Some are not decomposed fully and end up

in deposits underground (oil, coal, etc.).
Carbon Slowly Returns to Atmosphere

 Carbon in rocks and underground deposits is

released very slowly into the atmosphere.

 This process takes many years.

Cycle – Repeats Over and
Over and Over and Over …

It’s not necessarily in a circle

but cycles throughout.
Carbon in Oceans
 Additional carbon is stored in the ocean.

 Many animals pull carbon from water to use in

shells, etc.

 Animals die and carbon substances are deposited at

the bottom of the ocean.

 Oceans contain earth’s largest store of carbon.

The Carbon Cycle
Human Impact

 Fossil fuels release carbon stores very

slowly.
 Burning anything releases more carbon into
atmosphere — especially fossil fuels.
 Increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere
increases global warming.
 Fewer plants mean less CO2 removed from
atmosphere.
OXYGEN CYCLE
What is oxygen?

 a colorless, odorless, gaseous element

constituting about one-fifth of the volume of
the atmosphere and present in a combined
state in nature.
 Oxygen is found everywhere on Earth, from
Earth's crust (rocks) to the oceans where it is
dissolve
Importance of Oxygen

 Oxygen helps organisms grow, reproduce,

and turn food into energy.
 Humans get the oxygen they need by
breathing through their nose and mouth into
their lungs.
 Oxygen gives our cells the ability to break
down food in order to get the energy we
need to survive.
Question:

What will happen to all living organisms

without oxygen and carbon/carbon
dioxide?
Assignment:

Compose a poem about the importance of

oxygen and carbon dioxide in our lives.
Lecture end!