Cycles!!!
apes
ccampbell2009rhs
Phosphate Cycle
Answer the questions then use the information to sketch the phosphate cycle.
1. What is the world’s phosphorus sink?
2. What is a phosphate?
3. For what do organisms use phosphates? Think about the molecules we have discussed in class!!!!!!!!!
4. Where do autotrophs get phosphates?
5. Where do heterotrophs get phosphates?
6. What happens to phosphorus when organisms poop, pee, or die?
7. How is phosphorus released from rocks?
8. What can be inferred about the productivity of an ecosystem that occurs on a low-phosphate bedrock?
9. How does phosphate enter waterways? How does this lead to eutrophication?
Include these structures in your sketch: bedrock/mountains, soil, plant, herbivore, carnivore, body of
water, smiling sun
Water Cycle
Answer the questions then use the information to sketch the water cycle.
1. What is the world’s water sink?
2. Distinguish between evaporation, transpiration, and sublimation.
3. Why does water condense in the upper troposphere?
4. List the four forms of precipitation.
5. For what do organisms use water?
6. Distinguish between runoff and perking of water.
7. Distinguish between groundwater and the watertable.
8. How can ground water return to surface water supplies? What do we call these geologic features?
9. What is an aquifer?
10. What can be inferred about the productivity of an ecosystem that occurs in a low-water area?
Include these structures in your sketch: lake, ocean, creek, spring, clouds, snow-capped mountains,
aquifer, plants, smiling sun
These images are provided to help you with your sketches. You may use WORD to copy and paste and
then add your commentary.
Carbon Cycle
Answer the questions then use the information to sketch the carbon cycle.
1. That is the world’s carbon sinks? Notice this is plural!
2. For what do organisms use carbon? Think about the molecules we have discussed in class!!!!!!!!!
3. What organisms are the world’s carbon fixers?
4. Where do autotrophs get carbon?
5. Where do heterotrophs get carbon?
6. What happens to carbon when organisms poop, pee, or die?
7. How can carbon leave the body of an organism and return to the atmosphere?
8. How does carbon get into soil?
9. How can carbon leave the soil and return to the atmosphere?
10. What percentage of the earth’s atmosphere is carbon dioxide?
Include these structures in your sketch: soil, plant, herbivore, carnivore, decomposers, methane, carbon
dioxide, smiling sun
Nitrogen Cycle
Answer the questions then use the information to sketch the nitrogen cycle.
1. What is the world’s nitrogen sink?
2. For what do organisms use nitrogen? Think about the molecules we have discussed in class!!!!!!!!!
3. What organisms are the world’s nitrogen fixers?
4. Where do autotrophs get carbon?
5. Where do heterotrophs get carbon?
6. What happens to nitrogen when organisms poop, pee, or die?
7. How can nitrogen leave the soil and return to the atmosphere?
8. How does nitrogen enter waterways? How does this lead to eutrophication?
9. What percentage of the earth’s atmosphere is nitrogen?
Include these structures in your sketch: soil, plant, herbivore, carnivore, decomposers, denitrification,
ammonification, nitrification, nitrogen fixers, body of water, smiling sun
These images are provided to help you with your sketches. You may use word to copy and paste and
then add your commentary.