Questions and Answers
What is the difference between energy and nutrients?
What is the ultimate source of energy?
Solar rays from the sun
What occurs during the flow of energy in an ecosystem?
Plants convert that energy to sugar and cellulose.
What does the first law of thermodynamics state?
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What happens to energy while doing work?
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How do nutrients differ from energy regarding their presence on Earth?
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What are some dysfunctions in nutrient cycling?
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In what forms can nutrients occur?
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What defines a nutrient cycle?
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What does RASO stand for in nutrient cycles?
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What are reservoirs?
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Why is the sedimentary phase of the nutrient cycle slower?
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How do nutrients enter water?
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What happens to the biological concentration in nutrient cycles over geological time?
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How does carbon enter living organisms?
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What is the nitrogen cycle?
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Study Notes
Nutrient Cycling Overview
- Energy flows linearly while nutrients cycle within ecosystems.
- The primary energy source for life on Earth is solar rays from the sun.
Energy Flow Dynamics
- Plants convert solar energy into sugars and cellulose.
- Grazing animals absorb energy from plants, losing some during foraging while storing others as proteins and fats.
- Animals contribute to nutrient cycling by fertilizing with waste, supporting plant growth.
- Fungi utilize energy from fertilizers, aiding in nutrient decomposition.
Thermodynamics Principles
- First law of thermodynamics states that energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.
- Work done by living organisms results in energy loss due to entropy, necessitating constant energy replenishment.
Nutrient Characteristics
- Unlike energy, nutrients only cycle through the Earth, remaining within the biosphere.
- Dysfunctions in nutrient cycling can lead to severe ecological consequences, including eutrophication and climate change.
Forms and Movement of Nutrients
- Nutrients exist in various forms:
- Gaseous (e.g., N2, CO2)
- Mineral (e.g., apatite for phosphorus)
- Inorganic ionic (e.g., NH4+, NO3-, H2PO4-)
- Organic (in living or decaying organisms)
- Plants absorb nutrients in ionic form; animals obtain them through consumption.
Nutrient Cycle Definition
- A nutrient cycle illustrates the movement of elements among organisms and between organisms and the nonliving environment.
- Often referred to as biogeochemical cycles due to the interaction between biological and geological processes.
Key Components of Nutrient Cycles
- Four essential elements: Reservoirs, Fast and Slow Phases, Soluble and Insoluble Forms, and Increasing Biological Concentration Over Time.
Reservoirs
- Major reservoirs include non-living forms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
- For example, nitrogen constitutes 78% of the atmosphere as N2; hydrogen is sourced from water.
- Reservoirs serve as a supply of elements that are not easily accessed by living organisms.
Phases of Nutrient Cycles
- Biological activities lead to faster nutrient cycling, while geological processes slow it down.
- Gaseous phases are quick, with the atmosphere and oceans as primary nutrient sources; sedimentary phases are slower, involving soil and rocks with nutrient release taking thousands to millions of years.
Nutrient States
- Nutrients transition from soluble salts in water to non-soluble forms through the accumulation of minerals and sediments.
Long-Term Biological Concentration
- Over geological time, biological concentrations of nutrients within ecosystems tend to increase.
Carbon Cycle Insights
- Carbon enters living organisms via photosynthesis and leaves through respiration.
- Major carbon reservoirs include rocks, oceans, atmosphere, soil, plants, and fossil fuels.
- Movement between these reservoirs is regulated to maintain Earth's temperature stability, preventing an imbalance like that seen on Venus.
Nitrogen Cycle Key Points
- The nitrogen cycle involves continuous movement of nitrogen through processes such as nitrogen fixation, ammonification, and nitrification, maintaining ecological balance.
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Test your understanding of nutrient cycling and energy flow with these flashcards. Each card highlights key concepts that differentiate energy and nutrients, as well as their sources and processes in ecosystems.