Matter and Carbon Cycles Quiz

Matter Cycles

• Matter cycles are biogeochemical cycles, integrating biological, geological, and chemical processes within ecosystems.
• Matter cycles involve storage, compartments, sources (releasing more nutrients than they absorb), sinks (absorbing more nutrients than they release), and fluxes (movement in and out).
• Residence time is the average time a molecule stays in a particular reservoir, calculated by dividing the total amount of matter by the outflow at a given time.
• Carbon's residence time in the atmosphere is typically 5-7 years.
• The rate of matter cycling varies depending on season and ecosystem type, faster in spring and warmer climates.
• Soil, including tropical Amazonian soil, is a significant carbon reservoir cycled at varied rates dependent on the ecosystem.
• A key point to note in matter cycles is the differentiation based on whether they are gaseous or sedimentary cycles based on their primary storage pools.

Carbon Cycle

• Carbon is fundamental for life and is predominantly stored in the lithosphere (99.999%).
• Major carbon reservoirs (storage pools) include the lithosphere, oceans, biosphere, and atmosphere.
• Significant fluxes include decomposition, tectonic activity, burning fossil fuels, and ocean-atmosphere exchange.
• The oceans are the largest carbon reservoir.
• Ocean carbon storage is impacted by temperature (warmer water holds less), winds, wave action, and ocean currents.
• Three main pathways for carbon in the ocean are physical (surface water movement), biological (primary producers), and carbonate (shell-building organisms) pumps.
• Soil organic matter contains significantly more carbon than the atmosphere.
• Human activity impacts the carbon cycle through tilling, increasing atmosphere carbon, and impacting ocean acidity.
• Increased atmospheric CO2 can lead to decreased stomata size in plants, impacting transpiration and nutritional content. Ocean acidification, caused by excess carbon, harms coral reefs, shell-building organisms, and fish.

Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle

• Tilling releases soil organic carbon into the atmosphere.
• No-till farming practices can help reduce carbon release.
• Increased CO2 levels affect plant stomata function, potentially reducing water use and slightly increasing yields, but potentially reducing nutritional content.
• Ocean acidification is a growing concern associated with higher atmospheric CO2 levels.

Phosphorus Cycle

• Phosphorus is essential for life and is largely stored in sedimentary rocks and soils.
• It's critical for plant growth and is often a limiting nutrient.
• Weathering of rocks releases phosphorus into soil.
• Two pathways for phosphorus exist: inorganic phosphorus converting to organic phosphates and entering aquatic systems via runoff and leaching.
• Major storage pools include sedimentary rock, soils, and water bodies.
• Eutrophication (excess nutrient accumulation), especially phosphorus, can cause algal blooms, reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.
• Urban stormwater runoff frequently introduces excess phosphorus into aquatic environments.
• Climate change influences phosphorus cycles by increasing temperatures and potentially altering runoff patterns.

Ecosystem Story Map Assignment

• The assignment requires a 4-page, single-spaced ecosystem story map, integrating photos of each site.
• A flexible format is permitted.