Module 1 Intro

Module 1—Energy Flow and the Cycling of Matter

 

Lesson Summary

 

You explored this essential question in this lesson:

• How do carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle through the biosphere?

Biogeochemical cycles are interactions between producers and consumers and between the abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem. In effect, these cycles are like cereal because they provide essential nutrients! Since the nutrients (carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus) available in the biosphere are in limited supply, they must be cycled. Lesson 4 required you to be able to describe each cycle and make predictions about the consequence of alterations in each cycle—for example, deforestation can affect the carbon-oxygen cycles.

 

Lesson Glossary

 

acid deposition: the deposit of acid to land and water through acidic rain, snow, or sleet

 

biogeochemical cycle: a diagram representing the movement of elements and compounds between living and non-living components of an ecosystem

 

carbon sink: a system that removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases into the atmosphere

 

denitrification: the process of converting nitrates in the soil into nitrogen gas

 

denitrifying bacteria: a type of soil bacteria that converts nitrates in soil into nitrogen gas, releasing this gas to the atmosphere

 

eutrophication: excessive plant growth and decay caused by an excessive amount of chemical nutrients

 

nitrification: the process of converting ammonia into nitrates or nitrites

 

nitrifying bacteria: a type of soil bacteria that converts ammonia into nitrates and nitrites

 

nitrogen fixation: the process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia

 

peat: deep layers of mosses and plant remains unable to completely decompose due to the lack of oxygen in water-saturated soil