8

Science
Quarter 4 – Week 6 - Module 6
CYCLES IN NATURE

AIRs - LM
Pre-Test
Multiple Choice. Read the following questions and write the letter of your answer
on a separate sheet of paper. Label your paper Quarter 4 Module 6 Pre-test.

_______1. Which of the following processes produces carbon dioxide?

A. Decomposition B. Respiration C. Combustion D. All of the above

_______2. During nitrogen fixation, nitrogen gas is converted into a form that ____
can use.
A. plants B. animals C. fungi D. all of the above

_______3. Which of the following substances must be chemically transformed before

it can be used by plants?
A. Oxygen B. Carbon dioxide C. Nitrogen gas D. Water
B.
_______4. Carbon from the nonliving environment becomes a part of living
organisms through ____.
A. photosynthesis B. respiration C. transpiration D. absoption

Examine the diagram below, and answer the questions that follow.

(Photo taken at Google Free Clip/ Images)

_______5. How do the living organisms in the diagram return carbon to the
atmosphere?
A. by way of precipitation
B. through the process of photosynthesis
C. by breaking down sugar molecules during respiration
D. None of the above

_______6. What is the source of carbon in fossil fuels?

A. combustion and respiration
B. carbon captured during nitrogen fixation
C. the buried remains of long-dead organisms
D. carbon dioxide in ground water
______ 7. Carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere in increasing
quantities, causing it to hold heat. These causes ______________.
A. the temperature of land to rise B. global warming
C. the temperature of the ocean to rise D. All of the above

______ 8. What step(s) could be taken to help reduce the emission of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere?
A. Decrease combustion B. Cut fewer trees
C.Plant more plants D. All of the above

______ 9. Carbon dioxide and water are released as by products of ________________.

A. combustion B. respiration
B. photosynthesis D. decomposition

______ 10. Most animals get the nitrogen they need by _______________.
A. breathing B. eating other organisms
C. "fixing" nitrogen. D. drinking water

______11. Water changes from a liquid to a vapor during ________________.

A. precipitation B. respiration
C. evaporation D.decomposition

______ 12. Bacteria are essential to _______________.

A. combustion B. photosynthesis
C. nitrogen fixation D. Evaporation

______ 13. Which of the following statements about cycles of matter is true?
A. Matter is lost in each cycle.
B. Human activity has little or no impact on cycles.
C. Each cycle involves evaporation and condensation.
D. Matter is moved between the physical environment and living

______ 14. Drinking after running on a hot day replaces water lost through _______.
A. condensation B. respiration
C. transpiration D. combustion

______ 15. Approximately 91 percent of the Earth’s ____ falls on the ocean.
A. nitrogen B. water
C. carbon D. precipitation
 Lesson
CYCLES IN NATURE
1
For you to understand the lesson well, do the following activities. Have fun and
good luck! Are you ready? Let’s start!

Jumpstart
Activity 1: Biogeochemical Cycles Crossword Puzzle

Directions: Fill in the crossword puzzle with words commonly used in studying
evolution from based on the guide sentences below. Match the number of the
sentence to the boxes placed across or down the grid.
Across:
1. Process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas.
3. Animals need nitrogen to produce ______________________.
10. Large organic molecule containing nitrogen that contains your genetic
information.
13. _________________________ occurs when fertilizer runoff causes excess
algae and water weeds.
14. Our atmosphere contains 78% free _________________________.
15. The downward entry of water into the soil or rock surface.
16. Prokaryote responsible for "fixing" nitrogen.

Down:
2. Process where water "evaporates" from plants.
4. Rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
5. Bacteria that break down organic matter.
6. What molecule is produced when nitrogen is fixed?
7. Process by which water vapor turns into liquid water.
8. Animals get nitrogen into their systems by eating _______________.
9. Oats, peas, beans, corn
11. Helps plants to grow.
12. What "powers" the water cycle?

That’s indeed a good start! Congratulations!

Discover

If a biosphere is to stay the way it is or to maintain a state of balance, then

the important biological materials must endure changes in the form of cycles.
Cycles in the biosphere are circular patterns of movement and changes
undergone by the materials that make up or are needed by the living organisms.
Some of the major biogeochemical cycles are as follows: (1) Water Cycle or
Hydrologic Cycle (2) Carbon-Oxygen Cycle (3) Nitrogen Cycle. The producers of an
ecosystem take up several basic inorganic nutrients from their non-living
environment. These materials get transformed into the bio mass of the producers.
Then they are utilised by the consumer population and are ultimately returned to
the environment with the help of the reducers or decomposers.
This cyclic exchange of nutrient material between the living organisms and
their non-living environment is called biogeochemical cycle. As indicated by the name
the nutrients circulate through life {bio) and through earth (geo) repeatedly (cycle).
The biogeochemical (material or nutrient) cycles conserve the limited source of raw
materials in the environment.

Common Biogeochemical Cycles are:

(1) Water Cycle or Hydrologic Cycle is a continuous movement of water from
the atmosphere to the earth back to the atmosphere. It involves the following
vital processes:
a. Precipitation. The movement of water from the atmosphere to the earth.
b. Evaporation. The movement of water in the form of water vapour from the
earth to the atmosphere.
c. Condensation. The change in the state of water vapor to liquid water when
in contact with a liquid or solid surface or cloud condensation nuclei
within the atmosphere.
d. Transpiration. The water movement through a plant and its evaporation
from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers.

In this cycle;
(a) Water from the transpiring plants, oceans, rivers and lakes evaporates into
the atmosphere
(b) These water vapours subsequently cool and condense to form clouds and
water.
(c) Water returns to the earth as rain and snow.

(Photo taken at Google Free Clip/ Images)

Role of Living Things in the Water Cycle:

1. Plants
a. Plants take in water through their roots by absorption.
b. Plants give off water vapour from leaves (stomata) through transpiration.
2. Animals
 a. Animals drink water or obtain water from their food.
b. Animals give off a certain amount of water through exhalation, sweating,
or exercise.
3. Humans
Consider your day-to-day activities especially those which pertain to
conservation of water on the earth’s surface.

(2) Carbon-Oxygen Cycle:

Most of the carbon dioxide enters the living world through photosynthesis.
The organic compounds synthesised are passed from the producers (green plants) to
the consumers (herbivores and carnivores). During respiration, plants and animals
release carbon back to the surrounding medium as carbon-dioxide. The dead bodies
of plants and animals as well as the body wastes, which accumulate carbon
compounds, are decomposed by micro-organisms to release carbon dioxide.
Carbon is also recycled during burning of fossil fuels.

(Photo taken at Google Free Clip/ Images)

The Role of Carbon

1. Carbon is a major building block in organisms as it is a component of
carbohydrates, fats, proteins, ATP, and nucleic acid.
2. Carbon forms carbon dioxide (CO2), a component of the atmosphere which
acts as a major storage “bank” for the recycled carbon in the biosphere.
3. Carbon dioxide enters the plant body as a raw material for photosynthesis.
4. Carbon is stored in the earth’s crust, in the limestone shells of marine
organisms, and as fossil fuels or deposits of coal, oil, and natural gas.
 Oxygen required for respiration in plants and animals enters the body directly
from the surrounding medium (air or water).
Oxygen returns to the surroundings in the form of Carbon-dioxide or water. It
also enters the plant body as carbon dioxide and water during photosynthesis and
is released in the form of molecular oxygen as a by-product in the same process for
use in respiration. Thus, the cycle is completed.

The Role of Oxygen

1. Oxygen (O2) is one of life’s major building blocks. About every fourth atom in
the body of an organism is an oxygen atom.
2. Oxygen serves as an acceptor of hydrogen atoms in the respiration process.
3. Together with hydrogen atoms, oxygen forms water (H 2O) molecules during
respiration.
4. Oxygen enables heterotrophic cells to transform energy through oxidation of
food materials.

The two major life processes involved in the carbon-oxygen cycle-photosynthesis

and respiration. During photosynthesis, plants use CO2 along with water and the
sun’s energy to produce glucose and release O2. During respiration, both plants and
animals use O2 to break down glucose. The by-products are CO2 and H2O.

(Photo taken at Google Free Clip/ Images)

The Role of Living Things in the Carbon-Oxygen Cycle

1. Plants utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) in the process of photosynthesis to make
food and produce oxygen.
2. Animals utilize O2 to break down food in the process of cellular respiration
and bring out glucose (to be used by cells) and CO 2.
 Another part of the cycle is decomposition, a process by which organisms like
bacteria break down the tissues and excretions of the other organisms to simple
substances. The process of decay releases the carbon from the compounds retained
in the bodies of organisms when they die. Carbon is the released to the atmosphere
as CO2. In the same way, as O2 is used in the burning of fuels (factories, volcanoes,
etc.), CO2 is released.

Impact of Humans in the Carbon-Oxygen Cycle

Let us consider water pollution. Phytoplanktons are the producer protists that
live in bodies of water. Their photosynthetic activity accounts for a great deal of
oxygen supplied to our atmosphere. A thin layer of oil that spreads over the ocean
waters would cut off the light supply needed by phytoplanktons to continue their
photosynthetic process. The same layer of oil plus other water contaminants added
to the water by people will also bring about poisonous effects on the other organisms
present.
Another example is the large quantity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
which may bring about a condition known as greenhouse effect. The heat that is
radiated from the earth’s surface is trapped by large amount of CO2. In short, CO2
acts like the roof of a greenhouse. It holds heat close to the earth.
What do you think will happen to the earth and to organisms therein when
this condition occurs?

(3) Nitrogen Cycle:

Nitrogen of the atmosphere is in the elemental form and cannot be used as
such by living organisms. It has to be “fixed” i.e. combined with other elements such
as hydrogen, carbon or oxygen to become usable for the green plants. Nitrogen is
continuously entering into the air by the action of denitrifying bacteria and returning
to the cycle through the action of lightning and electrification.

Processes Involved in the Nitrogen Cycle

1. Ammonification. This is the process of releasing ammonia (NH3) from decaying
proteins by means of bacterial action.
2. Nitrification. This refers to the action of a group of solid bacteria on ammonia
producing nitrates (NO3).
3. Denitrification. This process is carried out by denitrifying or anaerobic
bacteria which break down ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites (NO2), liberating
free nitrogen.
4. Nitrogen Fixation. This refers to the process by which certain bacteria in the
soil or in the roots of legumes plants convert free N2 into compounds that the
plants can use.
 (Photo taken at Google Free Clip/ Images)

Role of Nitrogen in Living Thing

Every protein is made up of amino acids. Every amino acid is composed of an
amino acid group. An amino group is made up of one atom of nitrogen and two atoms
of hydrogen (NH2). In each organism’s body, there are several amino acids that
compose varying protein structures. As we all know, these variations bring about
individual differences. Other important molecules also contain nitrogen (N2).

The Flow of Nitrogen in the Cycle

Gaseous nitrogen composes 78% of our atmosphere in the form of a two-atom
molecule (N2). In spite of this amount, plants still cannot use nitrogen directly as a
nutrient. Certain types of bacteria, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria, can utilize
atmosphere N2. These bacteria are found within nodules in the roots of clover, alfalfa,
peas, makahiya, and other members of the legume family.
After the nitrogen fixation process, nitrogen from air is converted to nitrates.
Plants absorb NO3 as a group of soil minerals. Inside the plant bodies, N 2 from NO3

combines chemically with oxygen, hydrogen (H2), and carbon (C) to build up proteins.
Sulfur (S) and phosphorous (P) maybe added from sol minerals.
 When an animal eats the plant or another animal, it consumes protein as food.
In the body, this is broken up into amino acids (its building blocks) which are
converted into protoplasm. Not all of these protein materials have the same fate;
some are oxidized to produce energy. In such a case, N2 compounds maybe excreted
by the animal and be further decomposed by bacterial action in the soil or water, or
wherever the animal may thrive.
When an organism dies, decay begins. Nitrogen is released from decaying
proteins and combines with H2 to form ammonia-a process called ammonification.
Certain kinds of bacteria (nitrifying bacteria) use ammonia and produce nitrite- a
poisonous form of N2 compound which cannot be utilized as a nutrient by plants.
Nitrite is further acted upon chemically by other bacteria (nitrate bacteria)
resulting in the formation of the more usable nitrates.
By starting with NO3 and ending with NO2, a complete sequence of the cycle
has been described.

The Role of Living Things in the Nitrogen Cycle

1. Plants. They play a key role in that they absorb simple nitrogen-containing
compounds (nitrates, NO3) from the soil or water, incorporating these into
complex compounds of life. Legumes plants help fix free N2 from the air.
2. Animals. They become involved only when they eat plants, thus absorbing the
proteins. Both organisms, however, contribute excrement to be acted upon by
the bacteria in soil.

Human and Their Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle

While it is important for humans to have an increase yield of agricultural
plants, the large-scale dumping of fixed N2 to enhance soil fertility can create
problems. In 1914, German chemist found a way to fix atmospheric nitrogen in large
quantities-about 30 million metric tons per year-an amount that was fixed by all
terrestrial ecosystems even before human existed. Such activity produced an
imbalance between crop production yield and the denitrifying phase, a return of N 2
to the atmosphere.
A problem brought about by human input is euthrophication- a process by
which lakes or any freshwater ecosystems slowly become shallow by the
accumulation of dead plant materials. In such a process, as contaminants are
dumped into the body of water, there is an increase quantity of nitrate or phosphate
(PO4) ions, causing a rapid multiplication of certain algae populations. The condition
in which the algae either cover the water or color it with their presence is called algal
bloom. Algal bloom increases the number of decomposers which use up the oxygen
needed by other animals as well as other decomposers. As an effect, the water
animals and the decomposers die, accumulating at the bottom of the body of water.

The Abiotic Influence on the Nitrogen Cycle

Aside from microorganism fixers and legumes, lightning and meteor trails also
bring about nitrogen fixation. These phenomena in the atmosphere provide bursts of
high energy that enable free N2 into the air to combine with the hydrogen or oxygen
of water and be washed to the soil by means of rainfall.
 Explore

To master these concepts, here is some enrichment

activities prepared for you! Keep going!

Activity 1: Water Cycle

Label and describe the processes involve in the water cycle illustration below.

(Photo taken at www.coloringhome.com Free Clip/ Images)

 Deepen
To further deepen your understanding about cycles in nature,
let us try to do this activity.

Label and describe the processes/events involve in the carbon-oxygen cycle

illustration below by choosing processes/events from the box
Atmospheric Carbon dioxide
Decay by fungi and bacteria
Respiration
Plants use Carbon dioxide to make their food/Photosynthesis
Green plants are eaten by animals
Dead remain of plants and animals

Carbon-Oxygen Cycle
(Photo taken at www.coloringhome.com Free Clip/ Images)
 Gauge

Multiple Choice. Read the following questions and write the letter of your answer
on a separate sheet of paper. Label your paper Quarter 4 Module 6 Gauge.

______1. Water changes from a liquid to a vapor during _________.

A. precipitation B. respiration
C. evaporation D. decomposition

______ 2. When do bacteria are essential?

A.combustion B. photosynthesis
C. nitrogen fixation D. evaporation

______ 3. Which of the following statements about cycles of matter is true?

A. Matter is lost in each cycle.
B. Human activity has little or no impact on cycles.
C. Each cycle involves evaporation and condensation.
D.Matter is moved between the physical environment and living
organisms.

For numbers 4-5, study the diagram below, and answer the questions that follow.

(Photo taken at Google Free Clip/ Images)

______ 4. The process represented by arrow 1 in the diagram above is ____.

A. transpiration B. condensation
C. precipitation D.evaporation

______ 5. The process represented by arrow 3 in the diagram above is ____.

A. transpiration B. condensation
C. precipitation D. evaporation

______ 6. Drinking after running on a hot day replaces water lost through ___.
A. condensation B. respiration
C. transpiration D.combustion
______ 7. Approximately 91 percent of the Earth’s ____ falls on the ocean.
A. nitrogen B. water
C. carbon D. precipitation

______ 8. Water that seeps into the ground, where it is stored in underground
caverns or in porous rock, is called _______________.
A. runoff B. deposition
C. ground water D. lakes

______ 9. Organisms need nitrogen to ____________.

A. breathe B. break down carbon molecules
C. build proteins and DNA D. build sugar

______ 10. When fungi and bacteria decompose organic matter, they return ____ to
the environment.
A. oxygen B. nitrogen
C. carbon D. both B and C

______11. What is the source of carbon in fossil fuels?

A. combustion and respiration
B. carbon captured during nitrogen fixation
C. the buried remains of long-dead organisms
D. carbon dioxide in ground water

______ 12. Carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere in increasing
quantities, causing it to hold heat. These causes ____________.
A. the temperature of land to rise. B. global warming
C. the temperature of the ocean to rise D. all of the above

______ 13. What step(s) could be taken to help reduce the emission of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere?
A. decrease combustion B. cut fewer trees
C. plant more plants D. All of the above

______ 14. Carbon dioxide and water are released as by-products of

A.combustion B. respiration
C. photosynthesis D. decomposition

______ 15. Most animals get the nitrogen they need by _____________.
B. breathing C. eating other organisms
C. "fixing" nitrogen D. drinking water

Congratulations!!! You did very well in this module!!!

Jumpstart
Pretest
1. D 6. C 11. C
2. A 7. D 12. C
3. C 8. D 13. D
4. A 9. B 14. C
5. C 10. B 15. D
Answer Key
 Gauge
1. C 6. C 11. C
2. C 7. D 12. D
3. D 8. C 13. D
4. D 9. C 14. B
5. A 10. D 15. B
Deepen
1. Atmospheric Carbon dioxide
2. Respiration
3. Dead remain of plants and animals
4. Decay by fungi and bacteria
5. Plants use Carbon dioxide to make their food/Photosynthesis
6. Green plants are eaten by animals
Explore
1. Evaporation - The movement of water in the form of water vapour from
the earth to the atmosphere.
2. Condensation - The change in the state of water vapor to liquid water
when in contact with a liquid or solid surface or cloud
condensation nuclei within the atmosphere.
3. Transpiration - The water movement through a plant and its
evaporation from aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers
4. Precipitation- The movement of water from the atmosphere to the earth.
1. 1.