Nutrient Cycles in

Ecosystems
 Biogeochemical Cycle

 The flow of a nutrient from the

environment to living organisms and

back to the environment

 Main reservoir for the nutrient is in the

environment
 Main nutrient geochemical cycle
reservoirs in the
environment

fraction of herbivores,
nutrient primary carnivores,
available to producers parasites
ecosystem

detritivores,
decomposers

Fig. 47-14, p.852

 Three Categories
 Hydrologic cycle
 Water
 Atmospheric cycles
 Nitrogen and carbon
 Sedimentary cycles
 Phosphorus and sulfur
 Hydrologic Cycle
Atmosphere

wind-driven water vapor precipitation

40,000 onto land
111,000
evaporation precipitation evaporation from land
from ocean into ocean plants (evapotranspiration)
425,000 385,000 71,000
surface and
groundwater
flow 40,000

Ocean Land

Figure 47-15
Page 853
 EVAPORATION PRECIPITATION TRANSPIRATION

interception by plants

dripping, trickling falling through

down along stems to ground

surface pooling, etc.

infiltration of soil overland flow

moisture in soil lateral flow

seepage, percolation

groundwater storage base flow

DEEP OUTFLOW STREAM OUTFLOW

Fig. 47-16, p.853

 Water Use and Scarcity
 Most of Earth’s water is too salty for

human consumption
 Desalinization is expensive and

requires large energy inputs

 Irrigation of crops is the main use of

freshwater
Fig. 47-18, p.855
Negative Effects of Irrigation

 Salinization, mineral buildup in soil

 Elevation of the water table and

waterlogging

 Depletion of aquifers
 Aquifer Problems

Figure 47-19 
Page 855
 Carbon Cycle

 Carbon moves through the atmosphere

and food webs on its way to and from

the ocean, sediments, and rocks
 Sediments and rocks are the main

reservoir
diffusion between
atmosphere and ocean

bicarbonate and combustion of fossil fuels

carbonate in
ocean water

photosynthesis aerobic
respiration

marine food
webs

death,
sedimentation uplifting

sedimentation
marine sediments

Carbon Cycle - Marine Figure 47-20 

Page 856
 atmosphere

volcanic action combustion of

fossil fuels

photosynthesis aerobic combustion

terrestrial respiration of wood
rocks

sedimentation
weathering land food
webs

soil water
peat,
death, burial, fossil
leaching, compaction over fuels
runoff geologic time

Carbon Cycle - Land Figure 47-20 

Page 856
 Carbon in the Oceans
 Most carbon in the ocean is dissolved
carbonate and bicarbonate
 Ocean currents carry dissolved carbon
 Carbon in Atmosphere
 Atmospheric carbon is mainly carbon
dioxide
 Carbon dioxide is added to atmosphere
 Aerobic respiration, volcanic action, burning
fossil fuels
 Removed by photosynthesis
 Nitrogen Cycle

 Nitrogen is used in amino acids and

nucleic acids
 Main reservoir is nitrogen gas in the

atmosphere
 Nitrogen Fixation
 Plants cannot use nitrogen gas

 Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert

nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH3)

 Ammonia and ammonium can be

taken up by plants
Ammonification & Nitrification

 Bacteria and fungi carry out

ammonification
 conversion of nitrogenous wastes to ammonia

 Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium to

nitrites and nitrates

 Nitrogen Loss
 Nitrogen is lost from soils via leaching and

runoff
 Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates and

nitrites to nitrogen gas

 Human Effects
 Humans increase rate of nitrogen loss by
clearing forests and grasslands
 Humans increase nitrogen in water and air
by using fertilizers and by burning fossil
fuels
 Too much or too little nitrogen can
compromise plant health
 Phosphorus Cycle

 It is the most prevalent limiting factor in

ecosystems
 Main reservoir is Earth’s crust; no

gaseous phase
 Human Effects
 In tropical countries, clearing lands for

agriculture may deplete phosphorus-

poor soils
 In developed countries, phosphorus

runoff is causing eutrophication of

waterways