Module 1 Intro

Module 1—Energy Flow and the Cycling of Matter

Module Introduction

In Module 1 you will examine the use of energy and the cycles of matter within the biosphere. You will learn that capturing energy is done through organisms called producers. You will investigate how producers are able to convert the energy they capture into chemical energy that can be used by other organisms called consumers. You will also gather evidence about and describe how consumers allow energy to flow through the biosphere. Then you will look at how finite resources are cycled through the biosphere.

By the end of this module, you will be able to explain how the relationships between producers and consumers—abiotic and biotic components of the biosphere—maintain a constant cycling of matter and energy flow.

The essential questions that you will be looking at in this module are the following:

• How does energy enter the biosphere, and how is it distributed?

• Once energy is in the biosphere, how does energy become useful?

• What properties of water contribute to water’s role in the biosphere?

• Why is the cycling of matter within the biosphere important to life on Earth?

• How are biodiversity and biomagnification related to energy flow and the cycling of matter?

Once you have completed Module 1, you will work on a module project that requires you to answer the essential questions for this module. These questions will be answered through an analysis of a photograph, a sketch, or an image from a magazine. When you are ready to begin the module project, go to the Module Summary and Assessment to read the instructions and learn how you will be graded.