Topic 5 Notes
Unit 1: Interactions and Ecosystems
Topic 5: Cycles in the Environment
In this topic you will...
1) Describe the precess of cycling carbon and water through
ecosystems
2) Look at the different chemicals that affect ecosystems
THE CARBON CYCLE
* When organisms breathe, the gases are recycled in
the air and used by other organisms. When organisms die, the
nutrients they are composed of are recycled back into the
environment and used as well.
* Carbon is necessary for all life to exist and is
recycled in the environment.
Topic 5 Notes
Carbon Cycle and Global Warming
Topic 5 Notes
Carbon dioxide we are adding to the atmosphere by
burning fossil fuels is building up in the atmosphere
causing the greenhouse effect.
The heat energy becomes trapped between the earth and
the atmosphere and is believed to be increasing the
average temperatures on the earth causing Global
Warming.
Topic 5 Notes
THE WATER CYCLE
- The water cycle occurs in the biosphere (thin area around the
earth that can sustain life including the atmosphere, the
hydrosphere and the lithosphere)
- All living things require water to survive and this water is also
recycled over and over again.
- The water cycle contains 4 processes: evaporation and
transpiration move water from the Earth to the atmosphere,
condensation and precipitation return the water to Earth.
LABEL THE WATER CYCLE
Topic 5 Notes
Transpiration occurs when water is taken up in
the roots of plants and evaporates from the
leaves, stem,
and flowers.
Evaporation is the process where
the liquid state changes to water vapour.
Condensation is when water vapour changes to
a liquid.
Precipitation is the process where liquid water
forms from condensation in clouds and then
falls to Earth in
the form of rain, snow, or hail.
YOUR TURN
Online Activity
" Environmental Cycles"
Follow the instructions on the hand out.
When you are finished... show it to Mrs. French for
approval!
Topic 5 Notes
Pollution in the Environment
*Pollution occurs when a substance is added to the
environment at such a fast
rate it cannot be broken down.
* Pollutants are substances that cause pollution.
* Substances that occur naturally can
become pollutants when they are present
in too high amounts to be absorbed.
ACID RAIN
* pollutants containing sulfur and
nitrogen found in high levels.
* sulfur and nitrogen are released
when fossil fuels are burned.
Topic 5 Notes
pH Scale
Topic 5 Notes
Movement of Pollution
PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyl)
- from paints and packaging materials
- leak into environment remain in air,
water and ground.
Mercury
- used in industries (gold mining)
- dissolves in water and ground, ends up
in lakes, rivers and streams.
DDT
- pesticide used in 1940’s to 1960’s
- kills insects but very poisonous
- made its way into the food chain.
- caused the peregrine falcon to become
endangered
Topic 5 Notes
Bioaccumulation
- pollutants move from level to level in the food
chain
- accumulate in high levels of the food chain.
Draw on example of Bioaccumulation.
Topic 5 Notes
Your Turn
1) Complete the Topic 5 Review
2) Start working on the Topic 4 and 5 Wrap up
This is part of your studying for your topic
topic 4-5 quiz.