NUTRIENT CYCLE

 A nutrient cycle refers to the movement and

exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into
the production of living matter. The process is
regulated by the food web pathways, which
decompose organic matter into inorganic nutrients.
 Nutrient cycles occur within ecosystems. Nutrient
cycles include water, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen
cycles.
WATER CYCLE
 Over two thirds of the Earth's surface is covered by
water. It forms an important component of most life
forms, with up to 70% of plants and animals being
composed of water. Vast quantities of water cycle
through Earth's atmosphere, oceans, land and
biosphere. This cycling of water is called the water
or hydrological cycle. The cycling of water is
important in determining our weather and climate,
supports plant growth and makes life possible.
WATER CYCLE
EVAPORATION - Most water evaporates from the oceans, where water is
found in highest abundance. However some evaporation also occurs
from lakes, rivers, streams and following rain.

TRANSPIRATION - Is the water loss from the surface area (particularly the
stomata) of plants. Transpiration accounts for a massive 50% of land-
based evaporation, and 10% of total evaporation.

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION –The processes of evaporation and transpiration

are often collectively referred to as evapotranspiration.
WATER CYCLE
CONDENSATION - The process by which water vapour is converted back into
liquid is called condensation. You may have observed a similar process
occurring when dew drops form on a blade of grass or on cold glass.
Water in the atmosphere condenses to form clouds.

PRECIPITATION - Water returns to Earth through precipitation in the form of

rain, sleet, snow or ice (hail). When rain occurs due to precipitation,
most of it runs off into lakes and rivers while a significant portion of it
sinks into the ground.
WATER CYCLE
INFILTRATION - The process through which water sinks into the ground is
known as infiltration and is determined by the soil or rock type through
which water moves. During the process of sinking into the Earth's
surface, water is filtered and purified. Depending on the soil type and
the depth to which the water has sunk, the ground water becomes
increasingly purified: the deeper the water, the cleaner it becomes.
MELTING AND FREEZING - Some water freezes and is 'locked up' in ice,
such as in glaciers and ice sheets. Similarly, water sometimes melts and
is returned to oceans and seas.

• The processes involved in the water cycle are shown in Figure 8.21.
“THE WATER CYCLE”
OXYGEN CYCLE
 Oxygen is one of the main gases found in the air,
along with nitrogen. Oxygen is re-cycled between the
air and living organisms in the following ways:
OXYGEN CYCLE
PHOTOSYNTHESIS - during photosynthesis, plants absorb
carbon dioxide from the air to synthesise sugars, and
release oxygen.
There is a complementary relationship between
photosynthesis and cellular respiration in that the
former produces oxygen and the latter consumes
oxygen.

• the oxygen cycle is shown in Figure 8.22.

“OXYGEN CYCLE”
CARBON CYCLE
 Carbon is the basic building block of all organic
materials, and therefore, of living organisms. Most of
the carbon on earth can be found in the crust. Other
reservoirs of carbon include the oceans and
atmosphere.

Carbon moves from one reservoir to another by these

processes:
CARBON CYCLE
COMBUSTION - Burning of wood and fossil fuels by factory
and auto emissions transfers carbon to the atmosphere
as carbon dioxide.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS - Carbon dioxide is taken up by plants
during photosynthesis and is converted into energy rich
organic molecules, such as glucose, which contains
carbon.
METABOLISM -Autotrophs convert carbon into organic
molecules like fats, carbohydrates and proteins, which
animals can eat.
CARBON CYCLE
CELLULAR RESPIRATION - Animals eat plants for food, taking
up the organic carbon (carbohydrates). Plants and animals
break down these organic molecules during the process of
cellular respiration and release energy, water and carbon
dioxide. Carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere
during gaseous exchange.
PRECIPITATE - Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can also
precipitate as carbonate in ocean sediments.
DECAY - Carbon dioxide gas is also released into the
atmosphere during the decay of all organisms.

• Photosynthesis and gaseous exchange are the main carbon cycling processes involving living
organisms. Figure 8.23 depicts the carbon cycle.
“CARBON CYCLE”
NITROGEN CYCLE
 Nitrogen makes up most of the gas in the atmosphere (about 78%).
Nitrogen is important to living organisms and is used in the production
of amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA).
 Nitrogen gas present in the air is not available to organisms and thus
has to be made available in a form absorbable by plants and animals.
Only a few single-cell organisms, like bacteria can use nitrogen from the
atmosphere directly.
For plants, nitrogen has to be changed into other forms, eg. nitrates or
ammonia. This process is known as nitrogen fixation.
The nitrogen cycle involves the following steps:
NITROGEN CYCLE
LIGHTNING - Nitrogen can be changed to nitrates directly by
lightning. The rapid growth of algae after thunderstorms is
because of this process, which increases the amount of
nitrates that fall onto the earth in rain water, acting as
fertilizer.
ABSORPTION - Ammonia and nitrates are absorbed by plants
through their roots.
INGESTION - Humans and animals get their nitrogen supplies by
eating plants or plant-eating animals.
DECOMPOSITION - During decomposition, bacteria and fungi
break down proteins and amino acids from plants and
animals.
NITROGEN CYCLE
Ammonification: The nitrogenous breakdown products of
amino acids are converted into ammonia by these
decomposing bacteria.
Nitrification: Is the conversion of the ammonia to nitrates
by nitrifying bacteria.
Denitrification: In a process called denitrification,
bacteria convert ammonia and nitrate into nitrogen
and nitrous oxide . Nitrogen is returned to the
atmosphere to start the cycle over again.
• The nitrogen cycle is shown in Figure 8.24 .
“NITROGEN CYCLE”