Francom 1 Jordan Francom Mr.

Boxell Bio 181: Cycles 8/18/09 Carbon Cycle The carbon cycle is used to describe how the carbon in the environment flows among living beings, inorganic matter and the atmosphere. The path that carbon follows as it cycles through the air, earth, plants, animals and fossil fuels literally defines life as we know it. The carbon cycle uses both photosynthesis and respiration as a means of being cycled. Green plants undergo both photosynthesis and respiration. Fungi and animal life only respire. Photosynthesis is a process in which green plants use radiant energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. During the respiration step, the plants turn the carbohydrates back into water and carbon dioxide, releasing the energy that was used to build the carbohydrates. This is the energy that the plant uses to live during the night. Animals also undergo the process of respiration. When humans and animals eat plants, the carbohydrates are converted back into water and carbon dioxide, both of which are exhaled. The energy released during respiration is used to make Adenine Triphosphate (ATP), which is necessary for human and animal cells to function. When a green plant dies, the carbohydrates are usually broken down by fungi or bacteria. The Fungi and bacteria undergo respiration, which allows them to release the carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Francom 2 Carbon is an essential part of life. New carbon atoms aren't produced and introduced into the atmosphere. The carbon atoms that exist in the world today have been in existence since the beginning of time. These atoms, which are necessary to sustain life, are still here because they have been recycled countless times through the carbon cycle. If the carbon cycle can no longer function properly, life as we know it will be changed drastically. Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is essential to life because it is a key component of proteins and nucleic acids. Nitrogen occurs in many forms and is continuously cycled among these forms by a variety of bacteria. The nitrogen cycle is the steps by which nitrogen is extracted from the nitrates of soil and water, incorporated as amino acids and proteins in living organisms, and ultimately reconverted to nitrates. In order for plants to use nitrogen it must first be changed into nitrates in the form of nitrate ions dissolved in soil water. There are two pathways by which nitrate ions can be produced. The first is by nitrogen fixation by lighting, which is the electrical energy of lightning which causes nitrogen gas to react with oxygen in the atmosphere to produce nitrate ions which reach the soil dissolved in precipitation. The second way is by nitrogen fixation by bacteria, which is where bacteria in the soil can change nitrogen gas into ammonia which then dissolves in water to form ammonium ions. Nitrification is the next step to the nitrogen cycle, which is a bacterial process in which ammonium ions are converted into nitrate ions. The ammonium ions created by the process of bacterial nitrogen fixation are changed first into nitrites by bacteria .Then the nitrites are converted into nitrates by a different group of bacteria which live in the soil.

Francom 3 Once nitriate ions are created they the preceed to the process of assimilation to make amino acids, proteins, and DNA. Only the plants and some bacteria are able to carry out the process of assimilation. All other living organisms receive their nitrogen compounds from the foods they eat. Consumers digest the proteins and DNA into amino acids. These building blocks are then reassembled to make proteins and DNA of the consumers. Consumers produce wastes throughout their lives. When a consumer dies, its body contains nitrogen compounds such as proteins, and DNA. Ammonification is the process by which bacteria and some fungi break down these nitrogen compounds to make ammonia. The ammonia immediately dissolves in soil water to form ammonium ions. Denitrification then occurs, in this step nitrites are changed into nitrogen gas which returns to the atmosphere. This step is essentially the reverse of nitrogen fixation and nitrification. As a result of extensive cultivation of particularly soy, alfalfa, and clover, the growing use of the Haber-Bosch process in the creation of chemical fertilizers, and pollution emitted by vehicles and industrial plants, human beings have more than doubled the annual transfer of nitrogen into biologically available forms. In addition, humans have significantly contributed to the transfer of nitrogen trace gases from Earth to the atmosphere, and from the land to aquatic systems. Phosphorus Cycle Phosphate is incorporated into many molecules essential for life such as ATP, adenosine triphosphate, which is important in the storage and use of energy. It is also in the backbone of DNA and RNA which is involved with coding for genetics. Phosphorus

Francom 4 enters the environment from rocks or deposits laid down on the earth many years ago. Weathering and erosion of rocks gradually releases phosphorus as phosphate ions which are soluble in water. Land plants need phosphate as a fertilizer or nutrient. Herbivores obtain phosphorus by eating plants and carnivores by eating herbivores. Herbivores and carnivores excrete phosphorus as a waste product in urine and feces. When plant materials and waste products decay through bacterial action, the phosphate is released and returned to the environment for reuse. Much of the phosphate eventually is washed into the water from erosion and leaching. Again water plants and algae utilize the phosphate as a nutrient. This is where the cycle repeats itself again. When there is an excess amounts of phosphates that were not collected by plants, they enter ground water and collect in steams, lakes and ponds. The extra phosphates are a major contributor to the process called eutrophication. Eutrophication is the enrichment of aquatic ecosystems with chemical nutrients. The increase in phosphates is causing species to change. In aquatic environments, enhanced growth aquatic vegetation disrupts normal functioning of the ecosystem, causing a variety of problems, including depletion of dissolved oxygen, potentially suffocating fish and other aquatic fauna.

Francom 5 Works Cited "Carbon Cycle Steps - LoveToKnow Green Living." Major environmental issues | Going green. Web. 19 Aug. 2009. <http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Carbon_Cycle_Steps>. "Http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Phosphorus_cycle." Web. "Nitrogen Cycle." Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation. Web. 19 Aug. 2009. <http://www.cdli.ca/courses/sci2200/unit01_org02_ilo04/b_activity.html>. "What is the Carbon Cycle?" Oracle ThinkQuest Library. Web. 19 Aug. 2009. <http://library.thinkquest.org/11226/why.htm>.