Earth's Geochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical Cycles Lesson

HONORS BIOLOGY

INSTRUCTIONS

Carefully work through each of the slides. Some will include videos or diagrams, some will only be information, and some will have questions. It is important that you take your time, watch all vidoes, and read carefully. You may know more about some topics than others, so feel free to adjust the amount of time you spend on each topic.

When you have to answer open-ended questions, make sure to meet all requirements and do so in complete sentences!

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

A biogeochemical cycle is the pathway by which a chemical substance cycles the biotic and the abiotic compartments of Earth. The biotic compartment is the biosphere and the abiotic compartments are the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

BIO = life/living GEO = earth/ground

The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle

Multiple Choice

What is another name for the water cycle?

• Hydrologic cycle

• Evaporation cycle

• Atmospheric cycle

• Precipitation cycle

Multiple Choice

What is formed when water vapor condenses?

• Clouds

• Rain

• Hail

• Snow

Multiple Choice

The moisture in the atmosphere may be transported around the globe until it returns to the surface via

• Precipitation

• Evaporation

• Condensation

• Sublimation

Multiple Select

Which of the following are forms of precipitation? (Select all that apply)

• Rain

• Sleet

• Hail

• Snow

• Lava

Multiple Choice

What is it called when plants give off water vapor from their leaves?

• Transpiration

• Photosynthesis

• Respiration

• Condensation

Open Ended

Choose ONE (1) of the following major water pollution events:

(A) The Woburn, Massachusetts Water Contamination

(B) The Flint Water Crisis

(C) The Camp Lejeune Water Contamination in the 1950s – 1980s

(D) The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Briefly research your chosen event, and provide a summary in your own words. You may include images that you have found related to this event. Your response must be at least two paragraphs long (HINT: one paragraph could be more historical (about what happened), and another about its impact/long-term effects/how it was fixed/how we can prevent it from happening again).

The Carbon Cycle

Multiple Choice

How is the sun important in the carbon cycle?

• It allows plants to create and store carbon based molecules

• It allows plants to create and store oxygen based molecules

• It allows plants to create and store nitrogen based molecules

• It allows plants to create and store sulfur based molecules

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a way that animals release carbon into the soil?

• When animals die the carbon stored in their bodies gradually gets released as their bodies are broken down.

• When animals die the carbon stored in their bodies all gets released at once.

Multiple Choice

Trees can intake massive amounts of CO₂. Based on this, would trees be classified as carbon sources or carbon sinks?

• Carbon sources

• Carbon sinks

• Both

• Neither

Multiple Select

Which of the following are ways that carbon can be added to the atmosphere? (Select all that apply)

• Photosynthesis

• Animal respiration

• Plant respiration

• Fossil fuel combustion

• Carbon fixation by consumers

Open Ended

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions. The average carbon footprint for a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons.

Briefly research methods for reducing your carbon footprint. Choose ONE (1) method to describe. Your response should be at least one paragraph long.

The Sulfur Cycle

Multiple Choice

Why is sulfur needed by organisms?

• To make proteins

• To produce energy

• To create hormones

• To form cell membranes

Multiple Select

What 2 sulfur-containing gases are released by volcanoes? (select TWO)

• sulfur dioxide

• carbon dioxide

• nitrogen dioxide

• hydrogen sulfide

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a major way that humans affect the sulfur cycle?

• burning fossil fuels

• planting trees

• dumping plastic into the river

• reducing air pollution

Multiple Choice

How do plants get their sulfur?

• plants absorb sulfur from the soil

• plants obtain sulfur from the air

• plants produce sulfur through photosynthesis

• bacteria in plant roots fix sulfur into sulfates and make it available directly to plants

The Nitrogen Cycle

Multiple Choice

What type of nitrogen compound can plants take up?

• nitrates

• nitrites

• ammonium

• ammonianites

Multiple Choice

Nitrogen fixing bacteria commonly live in the nodules of what type of plant?

• Legumes

• Grasses

• Shrubs

• Trees

Open Ended

What role does lightning play in the nitrogen cycle? In your own words, briefly describe its function below.

The Phosphorus Cycle

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: The phosphorus cycle is essential for life on Earth.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

Phosphorus is found in which of the following? (Select TWO)

• Animals

• Plants

• Air

• Clouds

Open Ended

Many fertilizers include high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen. Based on the information provided in this video, how might the increased use of these types of fertilizers impact the Earth?

Poll

How confident are you in your ability to correctly interpret and answer questions about biogeochemical cycles?