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Biogeochemical
Cycles
Foldable
This graphic organizer is used to demonstrate
cycles showing the movement of a particular
chemical through the biological and geological
parts of an ecosystem.
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Objectives
1. The student will be able to label diagrams to understand the water cycle, oxygen cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and phosphorus cycle.
2. The student will incorporate the process of photosynthesis and respiration into the steps of the cycles.
3. The student will understand the chemical changes that take place within the cycle.
Materials Copied sheets from this resource – pages 5-10 for the student Scissors Directions
1. Copy sheet page 5 and then copy page 6 on the back of page 5 upside down; copy sheet page 7 and then copy page 8 on the back of page 7 upside down; copy sheet page 9 and then copy page 10 on the back of page 9 upside down. Answer key: copy sheet page 11 and then copy page 12 on the back of page 11 upside down; copy sheet 13 and then copy page 14 on the back of page 13 upside down; copy sheet 15 and then copy page 16 on the back of page 15 upside down.
2. Each sheet will be folded as a hamburger fold. Page 5 will be on the outside with page 6 on the inside; page 7 will be on the outside with page 8 on the inside; page 10 will be on the outside with page 9 on the inside.
Answer key: page 11 will be on the outside with page 12 on the inside; page 13 will be on the outside while page 14 will be on the inside; page 16 will be on the outside with page 15 on the inside.
3. Mark the outside fold one inch (about 3 cm) from the outer edges on all sheets.
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4. Keeping the sheet folded, take page 5 and cut the outer edges to the marked spot on both sides. You are cutting off the fold (maybe about 2 mm). Caution students not to take too much off or they will cut into the information.
The sheet is open so that you can see how much was cut off. 5. On the other two sheets, keeping them folded as well, start at one of the marked spots and cut the fold between the two marks. Again, you are just cutting off the fold (maybe about 2mm). Make sure students don’t cut too much and cut into the information. These sheets are open so that you can see how much was cut off. The outside inch is left on both sides.
6. Lay the two folded sheets out flat from #5. Place the oxygen cycle sheet on the bottom and the carbon cycle sheet on top of it.
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7. Fold the sheet from #4 into a burrito fold.
8. Place the burrito through the cut in the other two sheets. 9. Open the burrito. Inserted page is now flat.
10. Fold the sheets in half and it will form a book.
This book can be used as a note taking tool, as an assignment, as a study guide. Answer key is provided on pages 11-16 and can be put together following the same instructions (I have given the directions in red for steps 1 and 2 to put the pages together correctly).
Student Activity
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Nitrogen Cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Our atmosphere is ___________ nitrogen gas. 2. Animals and plants cannot directly use all the nitrogen found in our _________________________. 3. Only special bacteria can directly use nitrogen in our atmosphere and “fix” it so other organisms can benefit. These bacteria are called _______________________________ bacteria. 4. Higher organisms use nitrogen to make their ______________________. 5. Animal waste decay by the action of bacteria which create ______________________ and ___________________ products rich in nitrogen, and useful for plants to use again. 6. _________________________ bacteria in the soil can break down the ammonia into the gaseous form of nitrogen, which is not available for use by plants or animals. 7. In another part of the cycle, animals eat _________________________ containing nitrogen, which is again returned to the soil by animal ______________________ or decaying _____________________ and ___________________________.
8. Label the diagram of the NITROGEN CYCLE.
Cycles through the Ecosystem
Define biogeochemical cycle:
The elements important to life that are
recycled are:
atmosphere 78% ammonia proteins denitrificating
nitrate nitrogen-fixing plants animals waste plants
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Water Cycle Answer the following questions.
1. The water cycle is also called the ___________________________________________________. 2. ___________________________________ is the process that turns water vapor into liquid, which causes the formation of a cloud. 3. After it rains, the water can either end up on land or _________________________________. 4. When water evaporates from a leaf, this process is called __________________________. 5. When water is heated in an ocean, the liquid water changes form and turns into _________________________________. 6. When water leaves a body of water after it is heated, the process is called _________________________________. 7. When water falls from the sky, the process is known as ___________________________________. 8. When water hits land and is soaked into the ground, the water becomes _______________________________. 9. True or false: The water cycle is a continual process. 10. True or false: Transpiration is a process that occurs on plants and animals.
Label the diagram of the WATER CYCLE.
Detritivores – soil microbes,
earthworms, bacteria, fungi
Animal wastes, dead plants, dead
animals
Coal, petroleum
Adding carbon to the atmosphere
faster than producers can remove it.
Plants
Cow eating grass
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Phosphorus cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Phosphorus is NOT found in the free state in nature, but is contained mostly in __________________ and ______________________________. 2. It is an essential nutrient for life, as it makes up important chemicals such as ____________________. 3. In the phosphorus cycle, phosphorus moves between the soil and ____________________, which are eaten by animals. The animals use phosphorus, and then their ___________________________ products help return the sulfur for the next generation of phosphorus in the soil. 4. Some of the phosphorus in soils can be washed away into water ___________________________. 5. Another source of phosphorus in water comes from man-made ____________________________. 6. Too much phosphorus in water leads to plant __________________________, strangling all other life forms in the water. 7. Why is the use of too many phosphorus-rich fertilizers bad for the environment?
8. Label the diagram of the PHOSPHORUS CYCLE.
Most available oxygen is made by ____________ Some oxygen is made in the atmosphere,
on the ocean’s surface and green plants on the land via the process of when _____________ breaks
_____________. down water.
pollution basins rocks minerals waste DNA overgrowth plants
Most oxygen is stored in the _______
minerals of the Earth’s crust and mantle, called
the ______________, but is
bound to rocks and unavailable for use.
the ocean
Oxygen is used by animals, plants, bacteria, fire, decomposition, and
even rusting metal, called: _______________.
The Oxygen Cycle
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Carbon cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Plants use CO2 in the process of ________________________ to make _________________________ and oxygen. 2. Animals use oxygen in the process of ________________________ and make more CO2. 3. The ______________________ is the main regulator of CO2 in the atmosphere because CO2 dissolves easily in it. 4. In the past, huge deposits of carbon were stored as dead plants and animals ____________________. 5. Today these deposits are burned as fossil fuels, which include ___________________________, _________________________, and ____________________________. 6. More CO2 is released in the atmosphere today than in the past because of the___________________ ___________________________. 7. Another natural source for CO2 is _______________________________. 8. Too much CO2 in the atmosphere may be responsible for the ________________________ effect. 9. Write the equation for photosynthesis.
10. Label the diagram for the CARBON CYCLE.
coal oil natural gas burning of fossil fuels methane
photosynthesis sugar respiration ocean greenhouse decayed
Decomposition by bacteria and fungi
bacteria bacteria
Root nodules containing
nitrogen fixing bacteria
denitrifying bacteria
(nitrifying bacteria)
Nitrogen fixing plant
i.e. clover, peas, etc…
nitrates absorbed
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Oxygen cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Plants release 430-470 billion tons of oxygen during the process of ___________________________. 2. Atmospheric oxygen in the form of ____________________________ provides protection from harmful ultraviolet rays. 3. Oxygen is found everywhere on Earth, from Earth’s _________________________ (rocks) to the _____________________________ where it is dissolved. 4. Oxygen is vital for _____________________________ by animals, a process which produces CO2 and water. 5. Oxygen is also necessary for the decomposition of ________________________ into other elements necessary for life. 6. Write the equation for respiration.
7. Label the diagram for the OXYGEN CYCLE.
photosynthesis ozone waste crust oceans respiration
Phosphate rocks
Phosphate rocks
dissolved phosphorus
Animals and algae
Marine sediments
Excretion and decomposition
Animal waste and decomposing
Fertilizer containing phosphate
Phosphate mining
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Runoff
Soak into ground
Ground water flow
Answer Key
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Nitrogen Cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Our atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas.
2. Animals and plants cannot directly use all the nitrogen found in our atmosphere.
3. Only special bacteria can directly use nitrogen in our atmosphere and “fix” it so other organisms can
benefit. These bacteria are called nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
4. Higher organisms use nitrogen to make their proteins.
5. Animal waste decay by the action of bacteria which create ammonia and nitrate products rich in
nitrogen, and useful for plants to use again.
6. Denitrifying bacteria in the soil can break down the ammonia into the gaseous form of nitrogen,
which is not available for use by plants or animals.
7. In another part of the cycle, animals eat plants containing nitrogen, which is again returned to the
soil by animal waste or decaying plants and animals.
8. Label the diagram of the NITROGEN CYCLE.
Cycles through the Ecosystem
Define biogeochemical cycle:
The movement of a particular chemical through the
biological and geological, or living and nonliving, parts of
an ecosystem.
The elements important to life that are
recycled are: H2O – hydrologic; O2 –oxygen; C-
carbon; N- nitrogen; P-Phosphorus.
atmosphere 78% ammonia proteins denitrificating
nitrate nitrogen-fixing plants animals waste plants
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Water Cycle Answer the following questions.
1. The water cycle is also called the hydrologic cycle. 2. Condensation is the process that turns
water vapor into liquid, which causes the formation of a cloud. 3. After it rains, the water can either
end up on land or in a body of water, such as streams, lakes, and oceans. 4. When water
evaporates from a leaf, this process is called transpiration. 5. When water is heated in an ocean, the
liquid water changes form and turns into water vapor. 6. When water leaves a body of water after it
is heated, the process is called evaporation. 7. When water falls from the sky, the process is known as
precipitation. 8. When water hits land and is soaked into the ground, the water becomes ground
water. 9. True or false: The water cycle is a continual process. (water passes from atmosphere to
the Earth and back to the atmosphere) 10. True or false: Transpiration is a process that occurs on
plants and animals. (only occurs with plants – evaporation of water off of the plant leaves)
Label the diagram of the WATER CYCLE.
CO2 in atmosphere
Cellular Respiration
Detritivores – soil microbes,
earthworms, bacteria, fungi
Animal wastes, dead plants, dead
animals
Coal, petroleum
Adding carbon to the atmosphere
faster than producers can remove it.
Photosynthesis
Plants
Cow eating grass
Burning- emission
of CO2
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Answer Key
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Phosphorus cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Phosphorus is NOT found in the free state in nature, but is contained mostly in rocks and minerals.
2. It is an essential nutrient for life, as it makes up important chemicals such as DNA.
3. In the phosphorus cycle, phosphorus moves between the soil and plants, which are eaten by
animals. The animals use phosphorus, and then their waste products help return the sulfur for the
next generation of phosphorus in the soil.
4. Some of the phosphorus in soils can be washed away into water pollution.
5. Another source of phosphorus in water comes from man-made basins.
6. Too much phosphorus in water leads to plant overgrowth, strangling all other life forms in the water.
7. Why is the use of too many phosphorus-rich fertilizers bad for the environment? Agriculture runoff
goes into aquatic ecosystems which cause plants to grow and overpopulate the water.
(Eutrophication)
8. Label the diagram of the PHOSPHORUS CYCLE.
Most available oxygen is made by phytoplankton Some oxygen is made in the atmosphere,
on the ocean’s surface and green plants on the land via the process of when sunlight breaks down water.
photosynthesis.
pollution basins rocks minerals waste DNA overgrowth plants
Most oxygen is stored in the oxide minerals
of the Earth’s crust and mantle, called the
lithosphere, but is bound to rocks and
unavailable for use.
the ocean
Oxygen is used by animals, plants, bacteria, fire, decomposition, and
even rusting metal, called: oxidation.
The Oxygen Cycle
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Answer Key
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Carbon cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Plants use CO2 in the process of photosynthesis to make sugar and oxygen.
2. Animals use oxygen in the process of respiration and make more CO2.
3. The ocean is the main regulator of CO2 in the atmosphere because CO2 dissolves easily in it.
4. In the past, huge deposits of carbon were stored as dead plants and animals decayed.
5. Today these deposits are burned as fossil fuels, which include oil, natural gas, and coal.
6. More CO2 is released in the atmosphere today than in the past because of the burning of fossil
fuels.
7. Another natural source for CO2 is methane.
8. Too much CO2 in the atmosphere may be responsible for the greenhouse effect.
9. Write the equation for photosynthesis. 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
coal oil natural gas burning of fossil fuels methane
photosynthesis sugar respiration ocean greenhouse decayed
Nitrogen in the air
Dead plants and animals
Animal protein
Decomposition by bacteria and fungi
ammonia
bacteria nitrites bacteria
nitrates
nitrates absorbed
Root nodules containing
nitrogen fixing bacteria
denitrifying bacteria
(nitrifying bacteria)
Plant made protein
Nitrogen fixing plant
i.e. clover, peas, etc…
Answer Key
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Oxygen cycle Use the following terms to fill in the blanks to the questions below.
1. Plants release 430-470 billion tons of oxygen during the process of photosynthesis.
2. Atmospheric oxygen in the form of ozone provides protection from harmful ultraviolet rays.
3. Oxygen is found everywhere on Earth, from Earth’s crust (rocks) to the ocean where it is
dissolved.
4. Oxygen is vital for respiration by animals, a process which produces CO2 and water.
5. Oxygen is also necessary for the decomposition of waste into other elements necessary for life.
6. Write the equation for respiration. C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
7. Label the diagram for the OXYGEN CYCLE.
photosynthesis ozone waste crust oceans respiration
Phosphate rocks
Erosion
Phosphate rocks
dissolved phosphorus
Animals and algae
Marine sediments
Excretion and decomposition
Plants Soil phosphate
Animal waste and decomposing
Crops
Animals
Fertilizer containing phosphate
Phosphate mining
Decomposers
Answer Key
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Soak into ground
Precipitation
Condensation
Percolation
Transpiration
Evaporation
Runoff
Ground water flow
