Name:_______________________________________________________________________________ Period:_______________
Matter Cycle Research
Use your Biology book, pages 79-86 (old book pages 74-80). Read these pages and answer the following questions:
1. How is the flow of matter through an ecosystem different than the flow of energy?
2. As matter cycles through the cycles what happens to it?
3. Name and describe the 4 processes involved in the biogeochemical cycles.
Water Cycle
4. Draw a closed jar half-way filled with water. Indicate where you think evaporation, precipitation, runoff
and condensation occur.
5. What is the process of transpiration?
Carbon Cycle
6. Carbon is a major component of what 4 organic compounds?
7. What form is carbon found in Earth’s atmosphere?
8. What do plants make from it?
9. How do animals get carbon?
10. When do animals release carbon? What role do decomposers play in releasing carbon?
11. What other activities cause carbon to be released into the atmosphere?
Nitrogen Cycle
12. Why do organisms need nitrogen?
13. What process do bacteria use to turn nitrogen gas into ammonia?
14. Where do these bacteria live?
15. What is a form of nitrogen that plants and primary producers can absorb?
16. What is denitrification?
17. How do humans add nitrogen to the biosphere?
Phosphorus Cycle
18. Why is phosphorus essential to living organisms?
19. Where does phosphorus mainly remain?
Nutrient Limitation
20. What is a limiting nutrient?
21. Why can runoff from fertilized fields produce algal blooms?
Matter Cycle Research
Use your Biology book, pages 79-86 (old book pages 74-80). Read these pages and answer the following questions:
1. How is the flow of matter through an ecosystem different than the flow of energy?
2. As matter cycles through the cycles what happens to it?
3. Name and describe the 4 processes involved in the biogeochemical cycles.
Water Cycle
4. Draw a closed jar half-way filled with water. Indicate where you think evaporation, precipitation, runoff
and condensation occur.
5. What is the process of transpiration?
Carbon Cycle
6. Carbon is a major component of what 4 organic compounds?
7. What form is carbon found in Earth’s atmosphere?
8. What do plants make from it?
9. How do animals get carbon?
10. When do animals release carbon? What role do decomposers play in releasing carbon?
11. What other activities cause carbon to be released into the atmosphere?
Nitrogen Cycle
12. Why do organisms need nitrogen?
13. What process do bacteria use to turn nitrogen gas into ammonia?
14. Where do these bacteria live?
15. What is a form of nitrogen that plants and primary producers can absorb?
16. What is denitrification?
17. How do humans add nitrogen to the biosphere?
Phosphorus Cycle
18. Why is phosphorus essential to living organisms?
19. Where does phosphorus mainly remain?
Nutrient Limitation
20. What is a limiting nutrient?
21. Why can runoff from fertilized fields produce algal blooms?