Cycles and the Effects of Humans on the Environment All elements which make up living organisms are recycled,

however in this case carbon and nitrogen is focused.

Carbon Cycle
All living things need carbon, whether for proteins, fats, and other substances which make up living things. This carbon comes from the carbon dioxide in the air, the amount in the air remains at a constant 0.04%. Carbon dioxide is also a greenhouse gas, and by having excessive carbon dioxide in the air we encourage global warming to occur since it acts as a blanket trapping the heat and preventing it from escaping. Other greenhouse gases include methane, water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and chlorofluorocarbons. This is why deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels can contribute to it, as because with fewer trees less carbon dioxide is removed from the air and with more burning of fossil fuels more carbon dioxide will be added into the atmosphere.

Removal of Carbon
Photosynthesis - Plants are the primary medium in order to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as a result of photosynthesis and converts this to glucose. The carbon of the carbon dioxide is then built first into carbohydrates such as sugar or cellulose of cell walls, as well as proteins, pigments and other compounds of a plant. When plants are eaten by animals its passed on in the cycle.

Addition of Carbon
Respiration All living things respire whether plants, animals, or decomposers by oxidizing carbohydrates in their cells to carbon dioxide and water. This is then excreted and returns carbon to the atmosphere. Decay Micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi decompose plant and animal remains and turn the carbon compounds present back into carbon dioxide. Combustion When fuels containing carbon such as wood, coal, petroleum and natural gas are burned the carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide and returns again to the atmosphere. The fossil fuels were formed from fossilization.

Nitrogen Cycle
All living things need nitrogen to make protein through amino acids. Air is four-fifths nitrogen (79%), but neither plants nor animals can take it from the air since its chemically unreactive or inert since it has 3 covalent bonds therefore we obtain them after nitrogen fixation. Instead it must be changed into ammonium or nitrate for nitrogen to be absorbed. Its often used as a fertilizer to encourage plant growth. Plants absorb the nitrogen from the soil through nitrates or ammonium compounds, and animals through plant consumption.

Nitrogen is an essential component of DNA, RNA, and proteins and through it enzymes and hormones, the building blocks of life. However excessive nitrogen may damage red blood cells and is thought to be linked with cancer. Nitrogen Fixation Nitrogen fixation refers to the process by which nitrogen from the atmosphere is converted to nitrogenous compounds from insoluble and inert to soluble and reactive.

Addition of nitrates to soil

Nitrifying bacteria These are bacteria living in the soil which can use the ammonia from excretory products and decaying organisms as a source of energy, in this process the bacteria also produces nitrates as waste. Nitrates are taken up more readily than ammonia so its more used. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria A special group of bacteria that live in soil and in lumps called root nodules on the roots of legumes (peas, beansetc). They use nitrogen from the air to make nitrates for plants, but some of this enters the soil as a result of a surplus created. The bacteria fix nitrogen and get sugar/protection from the nitrogen and plant. They live in a symbiotic relationship with a plant. Crop rotation Plant legumes in an area once a year to return nitrogen to the soil, while you grow crops in another area during that time. Lightning Lightning makes the air so hot that nitrogen and oxygen combines to make nitrogen oxides which dissolve in rainwater forming weak acids washed into the soil as weak acids, where they form nitrates. However, this represents a small amount of the total amount taken by plants. Putrefying (decay) bacteria This decomposes the dead plants and animals, as well as their droppings to release ammonium compounds into the soil. The waste produced can act as a natural means of providing nutrients. Artificial Means Fertilizers, which produce high yields to feed humans. However, this has the disadvantage of polluting water. Acid rain also returns nitrogen compounds back into the soil. Disadvantages of nitrogen fertilizers include the lack of humus, and leeching.

Removal of nitrates
Uptake by plants Plant roots absorb nitrates from the soil and combine with carbohydrates to make proteins. This is then passed onto animals. Leaching Nitrates are very soluble and as rain water passes through the soil it dissolves the nitrates and carries them as run-off. This is because nitrates have a negative charge which is repelled by the soil which consists of clay and humus also negative charges which play an important role in holding nutrients in the soil. This often leads to water pollution which often leads to eutrophication. Denitrifying bacteria These are bacteria which obtain energy by breaking down nitrates to nitrogen gas which escapes from the soil back into the atmosphere. They are present in

waterlogged soils use the oxygen in nitrates for respiration, they breakdown nitrate, releasing atmosphere nitrogen.

Water Cycle
Deforestation affects the water cycle as it leads to a less humid atmosphere leading to less rainfall, and flooding which can also aid soil erosion. This is because theres less interception to hold back water or to uptake water from the soil and loses it again to the atmosphere by transpiration. Therefore, there is less water to condense to form clouds. Vegetation also encourages infiltration. This can lead to the area becoming desert-like and barren.

Acid Rain
Harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides rise into the air and can dissolve in clouds to form acids, which fall back to the earth as acid rain. Although rain is naturally acidic because of carbon dioxide, the strength of these acids formed is much stronger. These gases are generated by the burning of fossil fuels. Sulphur dioxide This gas damages the waxy coating which protects leaves, as well as preventing chlorophyll formation. It forms an acid vapor in the lungs which aggravates diseases such as bronchitis and also erodes exposed stonework. Oxides of nitrogen These originate from vehicles without catalytic converters. They corrode metal and stone and can have harmful effects on people with lung disease.

Acid Rain Damage

As well as this, these gases contribute to acid rain which can lead to damage to plants, soils, water life, and reacts with stone and metal. Damage to Plants Acid rain leads to the death of trees as well as crop damage. Leaves turn yellow and fall off, and roots are damaged so they cannot absorb minerals. This weakens plants as they are incapable of absorbing key nutrients so are more likely to be killed by drought, severe winters, and attacks from insects and fungi which would have little effect on normal plants.

Damage to Soils Essential minerals are washed away and poisonous chemicals including aluminum are released which are normally insoluble and harmless. Damage to water life As lakes and rivers become increasingly acidic more and more of water life continue to die. The release of aluminum from soil may also enter the water which poisons the fish by disturbing the gaseous exchange of water life, as well as slowing down growth.

Eutrophication
Eutrophication occurs when theres an enrichment of fertilizers and the like in water which are usually leeched from the soil, which stimulates the growth of plants including algae. The growth of plants increases the amount of oxygen used, eventually algae forms a green blanket over the water which results in other plants dying as the blanket blocks sunlight. This kills some of the water plants which introduce bacteria that uses up more oxygen dissolved in water. This suffocates many fish and other water animals as they cannot get oxygen , and with fewer animals to eat the algae they grow even faster. Eventually, the algae die and bacteria feed upon them which also take up all the oxygen the lack of oxygen results in the death of both animals and plants. This results in even more decay and more deaths.

Pesticides
Pesticides are any chemicals used to prevent, destroy, or repel any pests. In relation to plants, theyre used to control insects to prevent them from being a pest problem. Advantages: Cheap costs High yields Higher quality Prevention of pest problems (spreading) Disadvantages: Can kill other wildlife through biomagnifications May pollute drinking water and food (contaminate ground water) Pest resistance Potential health risks Reduction of beneficial species (may affect food chains) Insects which pollinate may also be killed The pest natural predators may also be killed For example Clear Lake in California was sprayed with DDT, a synthetic pesticide, in order to control the gnat larvae population. However, some of this would end up polluting the water and passing to microscopic plants and animals which resulted in bioaccumulation the build up of pollutants in fat and other tissue. This would continue along the food chains, from one trophic level to the next and through biomagnifications, the effect produced as bioaccumulation continues up the food chain from one trophic level to the next so that the top predator has a high, often lethal amount in its body, it has gathered a large, lethal amount of the pesticide in its body as a result of eating such a large proportion of the previous tropic level in order to acquire enough energy. Even in the event the animals dont die, they often suffer nonetheless. An alternative to using pesticide includes introducing the natural predator of the pest into the environment, i.e. the introduction of ladybugs to limit the amount of aphids. However a disadvantage could be that sometimes the predator itself becomes a bigger issue of a pest. 2. Around 1960, the sparrow hawk population decreased dramatically because pesticide in their bodies caused females to lay eggs with shells so thin, they broke before hatching. This

pesticide had managed to get into their bodies through the food chain and biomagnifications, where pesticide pollution affected smaller organisms which continued up food chains later. 3. The consumers at the top of a food chain is in more danger from pollutants as a result of biomagnification, as the pollutants are becoming more and more concentrated since organisms further along in the food chain will eat a large proportion of the previous organisms in order to acquire enough energy as energy is lost in the food chain, therefore they acquire even more pesticide also. http://www.teachersdomain.org/app.cgi/folders/view/1200597