Ecosystems and Material Cycles: Water, Carbon, and Sulfur

! All ecosystems need a flow of energy and a cycle of materials

! In the carbon cycle, carbon dioxide (CO2) is converted to glucose by photosynthesis, and
glucose is converted to CO2 by respiration.
! In the hydrologic cycle, the sun’s energy drives water evaporation. The water then
condenses to form precipitation.
! In the sulfur cycle, volcanoes and factories emit sulfur oxides. These sulfur oxides are
incorporated into vegetation, which decomposes, thereby completing the cycle.

All ecosystems need two basic things:

1. flow of energy
2. cycle of materials

Review: Energy flows through ecosystems in

one direction and cannot be recycled.

Materials like elements are recycled by

ecosystems. The chart on the left shows six
fundamental elements used by living
organisms. The mnemonic to remember them
is the nonsense word “SPONCH.” They are
sulfur, phosphorous, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon,
and hydrogen.
In the carbon cycle, carbon dioxide (CO2) is
converted to glucose by photosynthesis;
glucose is converted to CO2 during respiration.
The image on the left illustrates the cycling of
CO2 in an ecosystem.

A surplus of CO2 exists in the atmosphere

because of industry and large-scale
deforestation.

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 In the hydrologic cycle, the sun’s energy
drives water evaporation, which then
condenses to form precipitation. Over the
open ocean, more water evaporates than
precipitates. Also, over large tracts of forested
area, a large amount of water evaporates
because of plant transpiration (the
evaporation of water by plants through the
leaves.) Over most land areas, more water
precipitates than evaporates.

The sulfur cycle is fairly complex. On land,

trees and other photosynthetic organisms
absorb sulfur oxides and incorporate them into
organic matter. Dead organic matter may be
converted to sulfates by bacteria. The burning
of fossil fuel releases large amounts of sulfur
oxides into the atmosphere, resulting in acid
rain. In the ocean, certain kinds of algae
contain large concentrations of sulfur
compounds. When the algae decompose,
they release sulfur compounds that may be
available for absorption by terrestrial plants.

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Copyright © 2000, Thinkwell Corp., All Rights Reserved. 031600bio319