Cycling of Matter

All organisms contain:

• water and nutrients

• carbon

• nitrogen and phosphorus

• none of the above

The word biogeochemical breaks down into the following words:

• bio: involves all living things

• geo: earth and all it's geochemical processes

• water: includes all bodies of water

• spheres: involves all of Earth's spheres

Explain how chemical elements continue to be cycled through the biosphere in this photo.

Observe the picture. Fill in the spaces according to their number on the right. For example: 1: ______.

In what state does water enter the atmosphere?

• vapor

• liquid

• gas

• solid

Identify three processes in the water cycle:

• evaporation

• condensation

• precipitation

• transformation

In your own words describe how carbon moves from the abiotic to the biotic parts of the ecosystem.

How does carbon enter the long-term cycle?

• through dead organisms

• through photosynthesis

• through celullar respiration

• when sea creatures fall to the ocean floor they deposit calcium carbonate

What processes are involved in the nitrogen cycle?

• Nitrification

• Denitrification

• Nitrogen fixation

• Oxidation

In your own words explain the Nitrogen Cycle. Use the words: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.