Ecosystem Part II Biogeochemical Cycles

Summary:

In biology, the interconnectedness of life and the planet’s chemistry is illuminated by studying biogeochemical cycles. These cycles, involving the circulation of essential elements, shape the environment and sustain life on Earth. The water cycle, characterized by evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, ensures the continuous movement of water across the planet’s surface and atmosphere. The carbon cycle showcases the intricate exchange between atmospheric carbon dioxide and living organisms, with photosynthesis and respiration playing pivotal roles. This cycle also contributes to the greenhouse effect, where gases trap heat, affecting global temperatures. The oxygen cycle, rooted in photosynthesis and respiration, ensures a steady oxygen supply while interacting with water and carbon cycles. Lastly, the nitrogen cycle highlights nitrogen transformation between atmospheric, organic, and inorganic forms, essential for proteins and DNA synthesis.

These biogeochemical cycles exemplify the delicate balance of Earth’s ecosystems, where living organisms, abiotic factors, and chemical reactions interweave. The cycles are driven by a dynamic interplay between biological processes and physical factors, and their understanding is critical for comprehending ecological dynamics, human activities’ impacts, and climate change implications. The collaborative efforts of natural processes, environmental feedback loops, and species adaptation highlight the intricate beauty of life’s relationship with the planet’s elemental cycles.

Excerpt:

Ecosystem Part II Biogeochemical Cycles

SUMMARY:

Ecosystem Part II: Biogeochemical Cycles
1. Water Cycle
2. Carbon Cycle
3. Greenhouse Effect
4. Oxygen Cycle
5. Nitrogen Cycle

Biogeochemical: Bio = Life + Geo = Earth + Chemical (elements)

Chemical elements are everywhere and responsible for life itself and its continuity on Earth. Previously, we saw that chemical elements are finite, and for this reason, reutilized cyclically:

1. Substance available in the air or on the ground;
2. Take part in a living being metabolism (taken from its source and used);
3. Organic matter is recycled by decomposers;
4. Atoms constitute the environment once again;
5. Are incorporated into another being to be reutilized in the production of new organic compounds;
6. Return to its source for the second time.

So, in short, those interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that happen in a cyclical movement and the chemical reactions that make molecules circulate are Biogeochemical Cycles.