Name____________________________________Period________________
Introduction:
 The 4 most common elements found in living organisms are:
 How do organisms obtain these essential elements?
 What are biogeochemical cycles?
 Give an example of a…
Biological process –
Geological process –
Chemical / Physical process –
Human activity –
The Water Cycle
 What is transpiration? (Use the glossary/index to help answer this question)
 How is transpiration similar to evaporation?
 Transpiration is a biological or chemical/physical process? (Circle one)
 Evaporation is a biological or chemical/physical process? (Circle one)
 What are the two primary ways in which water that falls to Earth as
precipitation passes through the water cycle?
 Number the steps of the water cycle in the order in which they occur,
beginning with the collection of water in lakes or oceans.
______ Groundwater and runoff from land surfaces flow into rivers, lakes, and
oceans.
______ Water returns to Earth as rain or snow through the process of
precipitation.
______ Through evaporation, water changes from a liquid to a gas that becomes
part of the air.
______ Through condensation, water in the air changes from a gas to tiny
droplets of liquid.
The Carbon Cycle
 Define nutrient:
 The 3 nutrient cycles or pathways that move through our biosphere and are
critical for life are:
 How does oxygen participate in the nutrient cycles?
 Name 2 processes that involve oxygen that are critical for life:
 What are the 4 main reservoirs where carbon is found in our biosphere?
Use Figure 3-17 to study how carbon cycles through the biosphere
 Give an example of how the carbon cycle involves a biological process:
 Give an example of how the carbon cycle involves a geological process:
Give an example of how it involves a chemical/physical process:
 Give an example of how human activities impact the carbon cycle:
 Using what you just discovered about the carbon cycle, fill in the blanks to
complete the paragraph using the terms below:
atmosphere
carbon
water
living organisms
photosynthesis
respiration
cycles
__________________ is a part of all organic compounds, which make up living
things. It __________________ through the environment due to the flow of
energy in ecosystems. The carbon cycle is made of several processes, including
__________________________ and __________________________. During
these processes, carbon moves between its major reservoirs. These major
reservoirs include the __________________, the _____________________, and
________________________.
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The Nitrogen Cycle
 Define nitrogen fixation:
 Define denitrification:
 True or false: Nitrogen gas is converted to ammonia in a biological process
called nitrogen fixation.
 What part of the biosphere contains the most nitrogen?
 Use each of the terms below to complete the passage about the nitrogen cycle
ammonia
atmosphere
consumers
decay
decomposers
denitrification
nitrogen fixation plants
proteins
urinate
Nitrogen is a nutrient that organisms need to produce DNA, RNA, and
_________________. Plants and animals cannot use the nitrogen that makes up
a large percentage of the ______________________. The nitrogen is captured
and converted into a form that is usable by plants in a process called
____________________________. Nitrogen enters the food web when
____________________________ absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil and
use them to make proteins. _________________________ get nitrogen by
eating plants or animals that contain nitrogen. Nitrogen is returned to the soil
when animals ____________________ or when organisms die and __________.
_____________________________ break down organic matter found in
organisms into ____________________. This compound is changed by bacteria
in the soil into other nitrogen compounds that can be used by plants. Finally,
some soil bacteria convert nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas, which returns
to the atmosphere in a process called _______________________.
 Why are decomposers like bacteria so important to the nitrogen cycle?
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The Phosphorus Cycle
 Phosphorus is a key component in the molecules __________ and
_________.
 True or false Phosphorus is very abundant in the biosphere.
 Where is most phosphorus found on land?
 Where is most phosphorus found in the oceans?
 How do plants get phosphate?
 How do consumers get phosphate?
 What about marine organisms – How do they get phosphate?
 Define limiting nutrient:
 Give an example of a limiting nutrient (besides sunlight or water)
 True or false: Compared to land, the open oceans of the world contain many
more nutrients.
 In the ocean and other saltwater environments, ____________________ is
often the limiting nutrient.
 In streams, lakes and freshwater environments, ____________________ is
typically the limiting nutrient.
 What would be an advantage for farmers who use fertilizers?
 Hypothesize what might be a disadvantage for farmers who use fertilizers…
especially if they have a stream or pond nearby.
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