Biogeochemical Cycles

Whether you’re interested in bio geo cycles, or biogeo cycles, or even biogeocycles, you’re probably looking for information about Biogeochemical Cycles.

Here’s the definition of Biogeochemical Cycles, courtesy of Wikipedia:

In ecology and Earth science, a biogeochemical cycle or substance turnover or cycling of substances is a pathway by which a chemical element or molecule moves through both biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) compartments of Earth.

Elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another through biogeochemical cycles. Matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.

Plants play an important role in the Phosphorus Cycle – they absorb phosphates from the soil or water and bind them into organic molecules that can be used by animals.

Here are some terms you need to learn when you study topics related to biogeochemical cycles:

agal bloom
autotrophs
biomass
biome
chemosynthesis
communitie
decomposer
denitrification
detritivores
ecological pyramid
ecosystem
erosion
fossil fuels
heterotrophs
limiting nutrient
NH3
nitrification
nitrogen fixation
NO3-
one-way
photosynthesis
population
primary productivity
respiration
rocks and sediments that have been broken down
sequester
species
sunlight
trophic level

The above terms match with the following (can you correctly pair them?):

a collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving, or physical, environment
a diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each tropic level in a food chain or food web
a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities
assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area
breaks down organic matter
chemical symbol for nitrates
coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.
consumers
converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
during this autotrophs use light energy to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches
each step in a food chain or food web
feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter
group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area
group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring
how animals and plants use energy
how does energy flow?
producers
set apart from others
the chemical symbol for ammonia
the main energy source for life on earth
the rate at which an organic matter is created by producers
the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level
this process is when soil bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen gas and releases nitrogen into the atmosphere
this process releases nitrogen gas into the atmosphere once again
using CO2 and H2O to make O2 and carbohydrates
wearing away soil with water or wind
when an aquatic ecosystem receives a large input of limiting nutrient this is the result
when an ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce or cylces very slowly
when bacteria converts Nitrogen gas into ammonia
when organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
where do phosphates usually come from?