Cycles in the Ecosystem

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and describe the flow of nutrients in each

biogeochemical cycle.
• Discuss the importance of Biogeochemical cycle in Ecosystem.
What is Nutrient cycle?
• A nutrient cycle is a repeated pathway of a specific nutrient or
element from the environment to one or more organisms and
back to the environment.

• The carbon cycle, water cycle, nitrogen cycle, and phosphorus

cycle are a few examples.
An ecosystem's three main cycles are the water cycle, the carbon
cycle, and the nitrogen cycle. These three cycles are responsible for
removing waste and replenishing the ecosystem with the nutrients
required to sustain life. If any of these three cycles becomes out of
balance, the consequences for the ecosystem can be disastrous.
The water cycle:
Of all the nonliving components of an ecosystem, water has
the greatest influence on the ecosystem’s inhabitants.
The water cycle:
The water cycle:
Precipitation initiates the water cycle. Water evaporates into the
atmosphere from lakes, rivers, and oceans. Under the right
conditions, these water vapors congregate to form clouds. These
vapors eventually condense into rain or another form of
precipitation. This precipitation falls to the ground. The
precipitation then seeps into the ground and becomes part of the
ecosystem's water table. The remainder flows into streams and
rivers, eventually returning to the lakes and oceans from which it
originated. Water is used by life forms in the ecosystem to sustain
life along this journey.
Human Activities that affects the water cycle

 Use of toxic chemicals in agriculture and manufacturing.

 Clear cutting forest

 Waste disposal into the streams, oceans, rivers and lakes.

The carbon cycle: Photosynthesis
The carbon cycle: Photosynthesis
• Plants use the sun's energy, carbon dioxide, and water to produce
carbohydrates and oxygen. The fauna in the ecosystem readily
utilizes these carbohydrates and oxygen. Some of these
carbohydrates, in addition to being consumed by animal life, are
returned to the earth when the flora dies. They degrade there, and
the carbon returns to the ecosystem as carbon dioxide. Carbon
from decaying plants will eventually be converted into fossil fuels
if it is not consumed by animals.
The carbon cycle: Respiration
• It is a chemical process that organisms use to release energy from
food, which typically involves the consumption of oxygen and the
release of carbon dioxide.

• The carbon stored in organic molecules (like sugars) are used by

the producers and consumers for energy. (These carbon molecules
travel through the food web). Cellular respiration releases CO2
back into the atmosphere or water.
Human Activities that affects the carbon cycle

 Deforestation

 Burning of fossil fuel

The nitrogen cycle:
The nitrogen cycle:

The majority of the nitrogen in ecosystems exists as nitrogen gas. Nitrogen

makes up nearly 78% of the earth's atmosphere. Nitrogen in the atmosphere is
extremely stable and does not easily combine with other elements. Lightning
has enough energy to convert nitrogen into nitrates, a form of nitrogen that
plant life can use. Nitrogen fixing bacteria convert nitrogen to nitrates in the
second way. Special enzymes are used by these bacteria to convert nitrogen to
nitrates. Plants use nitrates to make amino acids. Animals consume plants to
obtain amino acids, which aid in the development of muscle tissue.
Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into gaseous nitrogen, which is
released back into the atmosphere when plants and animals die.
The nitrogen cycle is driven by bacteria and has five basic steps.

Nitrogen-fixation– bacteria found in the roots of plants (mainly legumes)

convert N2 gas into ammonia (NH3)

Ammonification– decomposers break down organism remains and releases

ammonia.

Nitrification – another type of bacteria convert the ammonia (NH3) into

nitrates (NO3). Nitrates are a form of nitrogen that are usable by producers.
(Lightening can also change N2 into NO3)
The nitrogen cycle is driven by bacteria and has five basic steps.

Assimilation – is the uptake of nitrates by producers. Consumers get nitrogen

by consuming producers or other consumers.

Denitrification – another type of bacteria breaks down the nitrates back into
nitrogen gas. (N2) Nitrogen content is a limiting factor for plant growth.
Human Activities that affects the nitrogen cycle

 Contaminating ground water from nitrate ions in inorganic

fertilizers.