Name _________________________________________________ Date _____________________ Period ____________
Cycles in the Biosphere
Natural processes cycle ________________ through the biosphere, which provides
the __________________ needed for organisms to function.
1. Define the following:
a. Matter –
b. Law of Conservation –
2. What does it mean to say the cycling of matter (nutrients) is a biogeochemical process?
The Water Cycle - Read, Run, Write
3. The water cycle is also known as the ________________________________ cycle.
4. Summarize the water cycle using the terms: atmosphere, vapor, condensation and precipitation.
5. ( True or False ) The water cycle creates water.
6. Complete the following…
a. Evaporation – Water going from _____________  _____________
i. Where is evaporation greatest?
b. ___________________________ - Evaporation of water vapor through plants.
i. Where does this process take place in greater amounts?
c. Condensation – Water going from _____________  _____________
i. Where in the atmosphere does this take place?
ii. What happens when the water gets too heavy?
d. Precipitation Examples:
7. Identify the following image using the word bank to the right.
______ Runoff
______ Evaporation
______ Condensation
______ Infiltration
______ Groundwater
Flow
______ Transpiration
______ Precipitation
5.
8. Critical thinking: How have human activities had an impact on the water cycle?
The Carbon Cycle – Let’s Act it Out
9. Summarize the carbon cycle using the terms: CO2, atmosphere, plant, animal, respiration, photosynthesis
sugar/glucose, decomposers, fossil fuels.
10. Explain the suspected connection between human activities and climate change (global warming).
11. Use the space below to draw a simple sketch of the carbon cycle.
12. Fill in this chart as you (a carbon atom) travel around the room (carbon cycle).
Where did you start?
Where did you go?
How did you get there?
13. Construct a bar graph which illustrates the amount of time you spent at each location. Be sure to label each axis.
Analyze your bar graph and the bar
graphs of those around you. What do they tell
you about the carbon cycle?
14. Critical thinking: Describe the role of each of the following on the carbon cycle: producers, consumers and
decomposers.
The Phosphorus Cycle – Animation Analysis
15. According to the animation, list several ways in which phosphorus is important for living organisms.
16. How have human activities had an impact on the phosphorus cycle?
17. Identify the difference between the short-term and long-term portions of the phosphorus cycle by completing
the image seen below.
18. Critical thinking: How can phosphorus move from the short-term cycle to the long-term cycle?
19. Critical thinking: How is the phosphorus cycle different from the other biogeochemical cycles (Water, Carbon
and Nitrogen)? Hint: it has to do with the atmosphere.
The Nitrogen Cycle – Let’s Act it Out!
20. Why is nitrogen such an important element to living organisms?
21. Defend this statement with an explanation: Atmospheric nitrogen must first be “fixed” before it can be taken in
by plants and animals.
22. Who/what is capable of nitrogen fixation? (List and describe all methods)
23. Fill in the chart as you (a nitrogen atom) travel around the room (nitrogen cycle).
Where did you start?
Where did you go?
How did you get there?
24. Use the diagram on the left to answer the questions on the right.
How is atmospheric nitrogen
“fixed” before it can be used
by plants and animals?
How does nitrogen return to
the atmosphere?
25. What did you find interesting about the activity in relation to the nitrogen cycle?
26. Imagine that you have recently convinced your parents to let you have your very own aquarium. You have just
learned about the cycling of matter in your biology class and understand the importance of having a variety of
both abiotic and biotic factors in any ecosystem.
Illustrate your aquarium. For each item you purchase for your aquarium, give an explanation for its presence in
terms of the cycling of matter and nutrients (water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus).
Item/organism I added to my aquarium
Reasoning
Light Source
Producers will need light energy in order to perform the
photosynthesis necessary for the carbon cycle.
Name _________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Period _____________
Cycling of Matter Current Event Reading
Article Title:
Summarize your article (Remember, a summary should be in 5 -10 complete sentences, free of spelling and
grammatical errors, and should include the main idea and key points of the article).
Reflect upon your article (Remember, a reflection should be 5 – 10 complete sentences, free of spelling and
grammatical errors, written in 1st person, and include your own personal thoughts and opinions).
Explain the connection between what you read in the article and what you have learned regarding the cycling of matter.