Bio.2.1.1
Analyze the flow of energy and cycling of matter (water,
carbon, nitrogen and oxygen) through ecosystems relating
the significance of each to maintaining the health and
sustainability of an ecosystem
carbon, nitrogen and oxygen) through ecosystems relating
the significance of each to maintaining the health and
sustainability of an ecosystem
Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen cycles.
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The water cycles' path through ecosystems is defiantly related to maintaining the health and sustainability of and ecosystem. It does this because almost every living organism needs water to live. The rain brings water to the flower and fills creeks and streams with water for animals. The water cycles cleans the water as it evaporates so it keeps the rain clean when there is no human interference. Without the water cycle and the rain it produces, an ecosystem would not be able to remain healthy and sustain itself.
The carbon cycle is also important. The plants take in the carbon dioxide that humans, among other things, omit. That carbon then becomes part of that plant. Plants, and other things, die and when the carbon within them is compressed over millions of years, oil and coal is created. When these fossil fuels are burned, carbon is released back into the atmosphere. This also leads into the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is when carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere. While a certain amount of carbon dioxide is needed to keep the earth from freezing, too much can be a bad thing. Without the carbon cycle, plants couldn't live and without plants there would be no animals or humans.
The nitrogen cycle is one people don't hear about very often. After nitrogen has been converted out of its gas for through fixation, the nitrogen can then be used by plants. Because it helps the plants it then helps animals too because some animals rely on plants. Then it is returned back into the atmosphere again to start the cycle over. The nitrogen, just like carbon, is absorbed and used by plants. Without nitrogen, or without carbon, plants couldn't live. Plants are a necessity to life and without the nitrogen cycle, they wouldn't be able to live.
The oxygen cycle is a necessity for life. Breathing and decomposing are two big everyday processes that have to use oxygen. Consequently, they both produce carbon dioxide. Plants take in the carbon dioxide and releases oxygen back into the atmosphere. Humans have to have oxygen to live and without it there would be no life. An ecosystem couldn't be healthy, or even living, without the oxygen cycle producing new oxygen.
The carbon cycle is also important. The plants take in the carbon dioxide that humans, among other things, omit. That carbon then becomes part of that plant. Plants, and other things, die and when the carbon within them is compressed over millions of years, oil and coal is created. When these fossil fuels are burned, carbon is released back into the atmosphere. This also leads into the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is when carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere. While a certain amount of carbon dioxide is needed to keep the earth from freezing, too much can be a bad thing. Without the carbon cycle, plants couldn't live and without plants there would be no animals or humans.
The nitrogen cycle is one people don't hear about very often. After nitrogen has been converted out of its gas for through fixation, the nitrogen can then be used by plants. Because it helps the plants it then helps animals too because some animals rely on plants. Then it is returned back into the atmosphere again to start the cycle over. The nitrogen, just like carbon, is absorbed and used by plants. Without nitrogen, or without carbon, plants couldn't live. Plants are a necessity to life and without the nitrogen cycle, they wouldn't be able to live.
The oxygen cycle is a necessity for life. Breathing and decomposing are two big everyday processes that have to use oxygen. Consequently, they both produce carbon dioxide. Plants take in the carbon dioxide and releases oxygen back into the atmosphere. Humans have to have oxygen to live and without it there would be no life. An ecosystem couldn't be healthy, or even living, without the oxygen cycle producing new oxygen.
Flow of Energy
The picture above is a food chain. A food chain is a great way to see the flow of energy throughout an ecosystem. The ecosystem mapped out in the food chain above is the Great Barrier Reef. On the bottom of the food chain you have the producers, next up is the herbivores, next the carnivores, then the secondary carnivores, and lastly the top-level carnivores. Then there are the decomposers.
Let's start at the bottom. The producers here would be the kelp. Kelp is a plant. This plant produces its own energy through photosynthesis or another chemical reaction. When the plant is eaten by the herbivore, the energy that it harnessed it transferred into the herbivore. When the herbivore is eaten it is then taken in by the carnivores and so on and so forth. Finally after the energy reaches all the way to the top-level carnivores, it has finished its journey. Then you have the decomposers. While these might get eaten by bigger predators, the have their own special place in the food chain. They eat decomposing matter and that is where they get their energy. They're like the clean-up crew.
The flow of energy is extremely important in maintaining the health and sustainability of an ecosystem.Without it, any level above the producers would never get energy and without energy they couldn't live.
Let's start at the bottom. The producers here would be the kelp. Kelp is a plant. This plant produces its own energy through photosynthesis or another chemical reaction. When the plant is eaten by the herbivore, the energy that it harnessed it transferred into the herbivore. When the herbivore is eaten it is then taken in by the carnivores and so on and so forth. Finally after the energy reaches all the way to the top-level carnivores, it has finished its journey. Then you have the decomposers. While these might get eaten by bigger predators, the have their own special place in the food chain. They eat decomposing matter and that is where they get their energy. They're like the clean-up crew.
The flow of energy is extremely important in maintaining the health and sustainability of an ecosystem.Without it, any level above the producers would never get energy and without energy they couldn't live.