4 : CYCL E S O F

LESSON
MATTER
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe how matter cycles among the living and nonliving parts of an
ecosystem.
• Describe how water cycles through the biosphere.
• Explain why nutrients are important in living systems.
• Describe how the availability of nutrients affects productivity of
ecosystems.
RECYCLING IN THE BIOSPHERE
What’s the importance of
recycling?
RECYCLING IN THE BIOSPHERE
What’s the difference between energy and matter regarding recycling?

Energy dissipates in the environment as heat while matter is recycled.

Energy

Cycles of Matter
Nutrients are recycled
through biogeochemical
Cycles

As matter moves through these cycles, it is transformed,. It is

never created or destroyed, just changed
PROCESSES INVOLVED IN
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
 The decomposers break down the
Chemical and physical processes dead materials

An earthquake leads to
Human activity

in g change the map of a city

t ch
Geological M a Hails, snow and
process rain…

Biological processe Using fertilizers

tekhnologic
Label each picture with the
suitable process.
 WATER CYCLE

Precipitation
Evaporation

Transpiration

Runoff
NUTRIENT CYCLES
CARBON CYCLE
NITROGEN CYCLE

Nitrogen Nitrogen
Fixation Fixation

Denitrification
PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
Phosphorus is mined, turned into
fertilizer and applied to crops,. Excess
may wash into rivers, streams and the
ocean as runoff.
Geological activity
washes phosphate from
rocks into the ocean.

Phosphorus is taken up by
primary producers reused by
consumers and released by
excretion and decomposing
matter.
NUTRIENTS LIMITATION
The nutrient whose supply
limits productivity is called
the limiting nutrient.
NUTRIENTS LIMITATION IN AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS
The open oceans of the world are nutrient poor compared to many land areas.

In the ocean and saltwater environments, nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient.

In streams, lakes, and freshwater environments, phosphorus is typically the limiting

nutrient.