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#YCLES IN .ATURE
4HE #YCLES OF -ATTER
3%#4)/.
.ATIONAL 3CIENCE
%DUCATION 3TANDARDS
"%&/2% 9/5 2%!$
!FTER YOU READ THIS SECTION YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER
THESE QUESTIONS
,3 C B C A
s 7HY DOES MATTER NEED TO BE RECYCLED
s (OW ARE WATER CARBON AND NITROGEN RECYCLED
7HY )S -ATTER 2ECYCLED ON %ARTH
4HE MATTER IN YOUR BODY HAS BEEN ON %ARTH SINCE THE
PLANET FORMED BILLIONS OF YEARS AGO -ATTER ON %ARTH IS
LIMITED SO IT MUST BE USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN %ACH
KIND OF MATTER HAS ITS OWN CYCLES )N THESE CYCLES MATTER
MOVES BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIVING THINGS
345$9 4)0
-NEMONIC !S YOU READ
CREATE A MNEMONIC DEVICE
OR MEMORY TRICK TO HELP YOU
REMEMBER THE PARTS OF THE
WATER CYCLE
7HAT )S THE 7ATER #YCLE
7ITHOUT WATER THERE WOULD BE NO LIFE ON %ARTH !LL LIVING
THINGS ARE MADE MOSTLY OF WATER 7ATER CARRIES OTHER NUTRIENTS
TO CELLS AND CARRIES WASTES AWAY FROM THEM )T ALSO HELPS
LIVING THINGS REGULATE THEIR TEMPERATURES ,IKE ALL MATTER
WATER IS LIMITED ON %ARTH 4HE WATER CYCLE LETS LIVING THINGS
USE WATER OVER AND OVER
)N THE ENVIRONMENT WATER MOVES BETWEEN THE OCEANS
ATMOSPHERE LAND AND LIVING THINGS %VENTUALLY ALL THE
WATER TAKEN IN BY ORGANISMS RETURNS TO THE ENVIRONMENT
4HE MOVEMENT OF WATER IS KNOWN AS THE WATER CYCLE 4HE
PARTS OF THE WATER CYCLE ARE EXPLAINED IN THE FIGURE BELOW
)DENTIFY $ESCRIBE TO THE
CLASS ALL THE THINGS YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY DO IN A DAY THAT
USE WATER #AN YOU THINK OF
ANY WAYS YOU MIGHT BE ABLE
TO USE LESS WATER
JXp@k
M:D>:EHHD
$ESCRIBE (OW DO CLOUDS
FORM
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4HE #YCLES OF -ATTER CONTINUED
7HAT )S THE #ARBON #YCLE
34!.$!2$3 #(%#+
,3 C &OR ECOSYSTEMS THE MAJOR
SOURCE OF ENERGY IS SUNLIGHT
%NERGY ENTERING ECOSYSTEMS
AS SUNLIGHT IS TRANSFERRED BY
PRODUCERS INTO CHEMICAL ENERGY
THROUGH PHOTOSYNTHESIS 4HAT
ENERGY PASSES FROM ORGANISM TO
ORGANISM IN FOOD WEBS
"ESIDES WATER THE MOST COMMON MOLECULES IN LIVING
THINGS ARE ORGANIC MOLECULES 4HESE ARE MOLECULES THAT
CONTAIN CARBON SUCH AS SUGAR #ARBON MOVES BETWEEN
THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIVING THINGS IN THE CARBON CYCLE
!NALYZE %XPLAIN THE
ROLE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN
THE CARBON CYCLE
0LANTS ARE PRODUCERS 4HIS MEANS THEY MAKE THEIR
OWN FOOD 4HEY USE WATER CARBON DIOXIDE AND SUNLIGHT
TO MAKE SUGAR 4HIS PROCESS IS CALLED PHOTOSYNTHESIS
0HOTOSYNTHESIS IS THE BASIS OF THE CARBON CYCLE
!NIMALS ARE CONSUMERS 4HIS MEANS THEY HAVE TO
CONSUME OTHER ORGANISMS TO GET ENERGY -OST ANIMALS GET
THE CARBON AND ENERGY THEY NEED BY EATING PLANTS (OW
DOES THIS CARBON RETURN TO THE ENVIRONMENT )T RETURNS
WHEN CELLS BREAK DOWN SUGAR MOLECULES TO RELEASE
ENERGY 4HIS PROCESS IS CALLED RESPIRATION
0(/4/39.4(%3)3 !.$ 2%30)2!4)/.
$%#/-0/3)4)/. !.$ #/-"534)/.
&UNGI AND SOME BACTERIA GET THEIR ENERGY BY BREAKING
DOWN WASTES AND DEAD ORGANISMS 4HIS PROCESS IS CALLED
DECOMPOSITION 7HEN ORGANISMS DECOMPOSE ORGANIC MATTER
THEY RETURN CARBON DIOXIDE AND WATER TO THE ENVIRONMENT
7HEN ORGANIC MOLECULES SUCH AS THOSE IN WOOD OR
FOSSIL FUELS ARE BURNED IT IS CALLED COMBUSTION
#OMBUSTION RELEASES THE CARBON STORED IN THESE ORGANIC
MOLECULES BACK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE
4HE #ARBON #YCLE
#ARBON DIOXIDE
IN THE AIR
M:D>:EHHD
2ESPIRATION
#OMPLETE #ARBON DIOXIDE
IN THE AIR IS USED FOR
,IST 7HAT THREE PROCESSES
RELEASE CARBON DIOXIDE INTO
THE ENVIRONMENT
0HOTOSYNTHESIS
#OMBUSTION
#ARBON IN
LIVING THINGS
$ECOMPOSITION
#ARBON IN
SOIL AND ROCK
#ARBON IN
FOSSIL FUELS
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4HE #YCLES OF -ATTER CONTINUED
7HAT )S THE .ITROGEN #YCLE
.ITROGEN IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO LIVING THINGS /RGANISMS
NEED NITROGEN TO BUILD PROTEINS AND $.! FOR NEW CELLS ,IKE
WATER AND CARBON NITROGEN CYCLES THROUGH LIVING THINGS AND
THE ENVIRONMENT 4HIS IS CALLED THE NITROGEN CYCLE
.)42/'%. &)8!4)/.
!BOUT OF %ARTHS ATMOSPHERE IS NITROGEN GAS -OST
ORGANISMS CANNOT USE NITROGEN GAS DIRECTLY "ACTERIA IN
SOIL CAN CHANGE NITROGEN GAS INTO FORMS THAT PLANTS CAN
USE 4HIS IS CALLED NITROGEN FIXATION /THER ORGANISMS
CAN GET THE NITROGEN THEY NEED BY EATING PLANTS OR BY EAT
ING ORGANISMS THAT EAT PLANTS
$SJUJDBM5IJOLJOH
!PPLY #ONCEPTS (OW IS
NITROGEN lXATION IMPORTANT TO
ANIMALS
4HE .ITROGEN #YCLE
.ITROGEN IN THE AIR
,IGHTNING CAUSES SOME
NITROGEN FIXATION
0LANT ROOTS TAKE UP
NITROGEN FROM SOIL
"ACTERIA IN SOIL
CONVERT NITROGEN
BACK TO GAS
!NIMALS GET NITROGEN
FROM PLANTS
$EAD ANIMALS AND PLANTS
$ECOMPOSITION
RELEASES NITROGEN
INTO SOIL
"ACTERIA IN SOIL AND
PLANT ROOTS PERFORM
MOST NITROGEN FIXATION
M:D>:EHHD
)DENTIFY 7HAT PROCESS
RELEASES NITROGEN INTO THE SOIL
(OW !RE THE #YCLES OF -ATTER #ONNECTED
/THER FORMS OF MATTER ON %ARTH ALSO CYCLE THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENT 4HESE INCLUDE MANY MINERALS THAT LIVING
CELLS NEED SUCH AS CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS 7HEN AN
ORGANISM DIES EVERY SUBSTANCE IN ITS BODY WILL BE RECYCLED
IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR REUSED BY OTHER ORGANISMS
!LL OF THE CYCLES OF MATTER ARE CONNECTED &OR EXAMPLE
WATER CARRIES SOME FORMS OF CARBON AND NITROGEN THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENT -ANY NUTRIENTS PASS FROM SOIL TO PLANTS TO ANI
MALS AND BACK ,IVING THINGS PLAY A PART IN EACH OF THE CYCLES
2%!$).' #(%#+
%XPLAIN 7HAT HAPPENS
TO THE SUBSTANCES IN AN
ORGANISMS BODY WHEN THE
ORGANISM DIES
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3ECTION 2EVIEW
.3%3
,3 C B C A
3%#4)/. 6/#!"5,!29
COMBUSTION THE BURNING OF A SUBSTANCE
CONDENSATION THE CHANGE OF STATE FROM A GAS TO
A LIQUID
DECOMPOSITION THE BREAKDOWN OF SUBSTANCES
INTO SIMPLER MOLECULAR SUBSTANCES
EVAPORATION THE CHANGE OF STATE FROM A LIQUID TO
A GAS
PRECIPITATION ANY FORM OF WATER THAT FALLS TO
%ARTHS SURFACE FROM THE CLOUDS
)DENTIFY )N THE WATER CYCLE WHAT MAKES WATER EVAPORATE
3UMMARIZE $RAW ARROWS TO SHOW HOW CARBON CYCLES THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENT
AND LIVING THINGS
0LANTS
!IR
!NIMALS
$ECOMPOSERS
%XPLAIN 7HY DOES MATTER NEED TO BE RECYCLED
%XPLAIN 7HY IS WATER SO IMPORTANT TO LIFE ON %ARTH
$EFINE 7HAT IS NITROGEN FIXATION
$EFINE 7HAT ARE ORGANIC MOLECULES
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%NVIRONMENTAL 3CIENCE !NSWER +EY CONTINUED
3%#4)/. %#/,/')#!, 35##%33)/.
2EVIEW
0OSSIBLE ANSWERS FOOD WATER SUNLIGHT
THE FIRST SPECIES TO LIVE OR GROW IN AN AREA
,ICHENS DONT HAVE ROOTS 4HEY GET THEIR
SHADE SHELTER
)NDIVIDUALS WILL DIE OR WILL HAVE TO MOVE TO A
NEW AREA 4HIS WILL CAUSE THE POPULATION TO
DECREASE
.O SOME SPECIES MAY USE MORE RESOURCES
THAN OTHERS 3OME SPECIES MAY BE MORE
AFFECTED THAN OTHERS BY A LIMITING FACTOR
&IRST ROW LEFT TO RIGHT PARASITISM PARASITE FLEA
3ECOND ROW LEFT TO RIGHT BOTH NONE
4HIRD ROW LEFT TO RIGHT COMMENSALISM
#OMMENSALISM THE POLLINATOR IS NOT
HARMED BUT THE PLANT STILL BENEFITS
2EVIEW
!BIOTIC FACTORS ARE THE NONLIVING PARTS OF THE
#HAPTER #YCLES IN .ATURE
3%#4)/. 4(% #9#,%3 /& -!44%2
7ATER VAPOR COOLS AND CHANGES INTO DROPS OF
LIQUID WATER 4HE WATER DROPS FORM CLOUDS
0HOTOSYNTHESIS USES CARBON DIOXIDE FROM
THE AIR 7HEN THE SUGARS THAT A PLANT MAKES
DURING PHOTOSYNTHESIS ARE BROKEN DOWN CAR
BON RETURNS TO THE ENVIRONMENT
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
RESPIRATION COMBUSTION DECOMPOSITION
!NIMALS NEED TO GET NITROGEN FROM PLANTS OR
OTHER ANIMALS 0LANTS GET THEIR NITROGEN FROM
NITROGEN FIXATION
DECOMPOSITION
4HEY ARE RECYCLED IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR
REUSED BY OTHER ORGANISMS
2EVIEW
ENERGY FROM THE SUN
4HERE SHOULD BE ARROWS FROM AIR TO PLANTS
WATER FROM THE AIR SO THEY DO NOT NEED SOIL
TALL TREES
IN PLACES WHERE LIVING THINGS ALREADY EXIST
WEEDS
CONIFERS
ENVIRONMENT 4HEY INCLUDE WATER LIGHT AND
SPACE
0RIMARY SUCCESSION IS THE CHANGE FROM BARE
ROCK TO A COMMUNITY OF ORGANISMS 3ECONDARY
SUCCESSION IS A CHANGE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE
OTHER LIVING THINGS ALREADY EXIST
)N SECONDARY SUCCESSION THERE IS ALREADY
SOIL FOR NEW PLANTS TO USE )N PRIMARY
SUCCESSION SOIL HAS TO DEVELOP BEFORE
SPECIES OTHER THAN LICHENS CAN GROW
4HERE IS LITTLE GRASS IN A MATURE FOREST
BECAUSE THE TALL TREES PREVENT THE LIGHT FROM
REACHING THE GROUND .UTS GROW ON MANY
KINDS OF TREES 4HEREFORE THERE WOULD BE
MORE NUT EATERS THAN GRASS EATERS
4ALL TREES NEED DEEP SOIL 0IONEER SPECIES ARE
THE FIRST SPECIES TO LIVE OR GROW IN AN AREA
4HERE USUALLY WOULD NOT BE SOIL IN AN AREA
WHERE NO LIVING THINGS HAD BEEN BEFORE
THE VARIETY OF SPECIES THAT LIVE IN AN AREA
PIECES OF ROCK THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN DOWN
AND REMAINS OF DEAD LICHENS
#HAPTER 4HE %ARTHS
%COSYSTEMS
TO ANIMALS TO DECOMPOSERS TO AIR AND FROM
PLANTS TO DECOMPOSERS
-ATTER ON %ARTH IS LIMITED SO IT NEEDS TO BE
USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN
,IVING THINGS ARE MADE MOSTLY OF WATER
7ATER CARRIES NUTRIENTS TO CELLS AND CARRIES
WASTES AWAY 7ATER ALSO HELPS ORGANISMS
REGULATE THEIR BODY TEMPERATURES
.ITROGEN FIXATION IS THE PROCESS IN WHICH
BACTERIA IN SOIL CHANGE NITROGEN GAS INTO A
FORM THAT PLANTS CAN USE
MOLECULES THAT CONTAIN CARBON
3%#4)/. ,!.$ ")/-%3
"IOMES ARE MADE OF MANY RELATED
ECOSYSTEMS
!FRICA 3OUTH !MERICA
PLENTY OF RAIN MODERATE TEMPERATURES
DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS
IN CONES
4HE EVERGREEN CONIFERS SHADE THE FOREST
FLOOR BUT THE DECIDUOUS TREES OF THE TEMPER
ATE FOREST ALLOW LIGHT TO REACH THE GROUND
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%NVIRONMENTAL 3CIENCE