Energy from the Sun flows through an ecosystem by feeding relationships. A large percentage of energy is lost as heat. Matter is transferred by feeding relationships and other processes. Whereas energy is constantly entering the biosphere as sunlight, new matter does not enter the biosphere. Carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus are essential building blocks for all life on Earth and are cycled through living and non-living components of the ecosystem. Water is important in the cycling of matter through biogeochemical cycles.

Consider the following question as you complete this lesson:

• What chemical and physical properties of water make water an important part of biogeochemical cycles?