Environmental Science

Biogeochemical cycles
 Intended Learning Outcomes
 Identifythe different processes involved in different types
of biogeochemical cycles,
 Trace the flow of materials in the biogeochemical cycles of
the ecosystem
 Describe how human activities impacted these
biogeochemical cycles
 2 Keys to Survival
 Energy Flow
 Biogeochemical Cycles
 Biogeochemical Cycles
 Earth system has
4 parts (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere,
biosphere)
 2 components (abiotic, biotic)
 Biogeochemical cycles
 recycling of matter from the abiotic to the biotic
factors and back
 maintain the balance in the ecosystem and so that
organism can play its role in the ecosystem or to its
environment
 Biogeochemical Cycles
 Water Cycle
 Carbon Cycle
 Oxygen Cycle
 Nitrogen Cycle
 Phosphorus Cycle
Water Cycle
 Carbon Cycle
 Carbon is the skeleton of life which constitute 18% of
human body
 Carbon
 Absorbed by plants
 Released through respiration
 Released through decomposition
 Released through combustion
Carbon Cycle
Oxygen Cycle
 Oxygen constitute 21% of air in the atmosphere
 Oxygen
 Released as a by-product of photosynthesis
 Absorbed by animals and plants in respiration
 Used in the processes of combustion, decomposition, corrosion
Oxygen Cycle
 Nitrogen Cycle
 Nitrogen gas constitute 78% of the atmosphere.
 As an inert gas, it cannot be directly used by plants and
animals.
 Nitrogen is converted into usable form by lightning, some
bacteria or industrial process
 Importance:
 Component in amino acids
 Chemical industry (fertilizer, nylon, dyes)
 Pharmacological drugs
 Nitrogen Cycle (Steps)
Nitrogen fixation
 Nitrogen is converted to ammonia to be used by plants

Nitrification
 Nitrifying bacteria converts ammonia to nitrites, then nitrites
is converted to nitrates

Assimilation
 Process of absorbing nitrates and ammonia into organic
matter. This organic matter is transferred to animal's body
when the animal eats.
 Nitrogen Cycle (Steps)
Ammonification
 When animal dies, organic nitrogen in the dead is converted
back to ammonia

Denitrification
 Denitrifying bacteria converts nitrates to nitrous oxide gas
then into nitrogen.
Nitrogen Cycle
 Phosphorus Cycle
 Phosphorus is an important nutrient for plants and animals
 Remains mostly in rocks, soil.
 Importance:
 DNA and RNA, bones and teeth, exoskeleton (insects)
 Fertilizers
 Match, incendiary, rat poison
 Phosphorus Cycle
Weathering
 Phosphorus found in rocks are broken down

Absorption
 Broken down phosphorus is absorbed by plants and animals

Decomposition
 Wastes and dead animals are broken down to release
phosphorus
Sediments
 Phosphorus gets buried in sediments then turned to rocks
Phosphorus Cycle