05/08/2022

Changes
and Material Cycle
• Rationale for Biogeochemical Cycle
• Gaseous Biogeochemical Cycle
• Sedimentary Biogeochemical Cycle
• Hydrologic Biogeochemical Cycle
• Disruption in the Biogeochemical Cycle

Biogeochemical
cycles
• pathway by which a chemicals
move through both biotic (bio)
and abiotic (geo) compartments
of an ecosystem following a
cycling flow

• classified based on the main

reservoir of the chemicals:
gaseous (atmosphere),
sedimentary (lithosphere),
hydrologic (hydrosphere)

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Carbon cycle

CHO
• Carbon is the main element in organic compounds
(carbohydrate, lipids, protein, nucleic acid)
• Carbon is used by plants to build leaves and
stems, which are then digested by animals and
used for cellular growth
• Some animals use carbon to form shells and
skeletons (clams, corals)

Carbon cycle

• Photosynthesis – conversion of carbon dioxide into

carbohydrates
• Respiration – release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere
• Decomposition – breakdown of carbohydrates into carbon
and some other compound byproducts
• Fossilization – formation of the remains of organism into
fossil fuel

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Nitrogen cycle

CHON
• Nitrogen is a crucial component of life as it is in all
amino acids which are incorporated into protein,
and is present in the bases that make up nucleic
acid (DNA, RNA)
• In plants, much of the nitrogen is used in
chlorophyll molecules which are essential for
photosynthesis and further growth.

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Nitrogen cycle
• Nitrogen fixation – fixation of nitrogen gas (N2) into usable form either
thru lightning or bacteria in plants
• Assimilation – absorption of ammonium ions from the soil via their
root hairs to synthesize protein
• Ammonification – release of ammonia from organic nitrogen (remains
of organisms, excreta)
• Nitrification – conversion of ammonia into nitrites (NO2-) by nitrifying
bacteria and subsequently into nitrates (NO3-)
• Denitrification – reduction of nitrites/nitrates into largely inert nitrogen
gas

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Phosphorous cycle

CHONP
• Phosphates are components of nucleic acids
(RNA, DNA) and energy transfer molecules (ADP,
ATP)
• Major component of vertebrate bones and teeth

Phosphorous cycle
• Geological uplifting – release of phosphate (phosphate rocks) from the
lithosphere
• Weathering of rocks – release of phosphate into the ground and/or
water
• Assimilation – incorporation of phosphate ions into plants (nucleic
acid)
• Decomposition – release of phosphate into the soil/water from
decaying organic matter
• Sedimentation – formation of new phosphate rocks

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Sulfur cycle

CHONPs
• Sulfur atoms are a component of amino acids
(protein)
• Important for the functioning of proteins and
enzymes in plants, and in animals that depend
upon plants for sulfur. Plants absorb sulfur when it
is dissolved in water. Animals consume these
plants, so that they take up enough sulfur to
maintain their health.

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Sulfur cycle
• Volcanic eruption and Geological vents – release of sulfur from the
lithosphere
• Weathering of rocks – release of sulfur into the ground and/or water
• Assimilation – incorporation of sulfur into plants (vitamins, protein,
etc.)
• Decomposition – release of sulfur into the soil/water from decaying
organic matter
• Sedimentation – formation of new sulfur rocks

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Water cycle

H20
• Water makes 70 – 95 % of most organisms
• For living things: universal solvent; component of body
solutions(sweat, blood, tears, saliva, urine); carries
substances throughout the body
• For ecosphere: regulates climate; shapes earth’s surface;
dilutes and degrades wastes

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Water cycle
• Condensation – transformation of water vapour to liquid water
droplets in the air, producing clouds and fog
• Precipitation - movement of water from the atmosphere to the
lithosphere or hydrosphere
• Evaporation – transformation of water from liquid to gas phases
as it moves from the ground or bodies of water into the
overlying atmosphere
• Infiltration - flow of water from the ground surface into the
ground

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What happens when the

nutrient recycling is
disrupted?

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Eutrophication
• gradual increase in the concentration of phosphorous,
nitrogen, and other plant nutrients in an aging aquatic
ecosystem

• eutrophic waters are often murky and may support fewer

large animals, than non-eutrophic waters.

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Acid rain or acid deposition

• any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or
nitric/carbonic acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet
or dry forms (rain, snow, fog, hail or even acidic dust)

• detrimental effects on trees, freshwaters and soils, destroys insects and aquatic
life-forms, causes paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and
weathering of stone buildings and sculptures, as well as impacts on human health.

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• Nature has its own way of sustaining itself with essential

nutrients needed by life.

• Biogeochemical cycles follow a cyclic flow with the

involvement of both the biotic and abiotic factors.
• Disruption in the nutrient cycle caused by natural
phenomena and anthropocentric activities
corresponding bring about change in the ecosystem.

Key takeaways…..
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