The document discusses nutrient cycles in different ecosystems. Nutrients cycle between biomass, litter, and soil and are gained through precipitation, weathering, and decomposition or lost through leaching and runoff. It specifically examines the nutrient cycles in tropical rainforests, prairies/grasslands, and northern coniferous forests (taiga).

1. The Carbon Cycle briefly: Has stores of carbon which hold the carbon Atmosphere Soil and lithosphere (fossil fuels) Vegetation Oceans Carbon is TRANSFERRED between stores By respiration and photosynthesis Plants are eaten and die Decomposers Burning of fossil fuels

2. Nutrient cycling Key terms: Nutrient cycle Biomass Soil Litter May 29, 2009

3. Recycling of nutrients Ecosystems cycle nutrientd as well as transferring food energy Two types: Micronutrients e.g. sulphur, magnesium Macronutrients e.g. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen

4. Sources of nutrients… Atmosphere Rocks Dead organic matter

5. RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS LITTER Surface layer of vegetation BIOMASS Weight of living material SOIL Additional nutrients added by weathering of parent rock Trees and organisms die Plants take up nutrients Some nutrients lost due to leaching Decomposition of plants and leaves releases nutrients The Nutrient Cycle

6. The rainforest/ selvas nutrient ecosystem Biomass-trees and plants Litter Soil Gain from precipitation Gain from weathering Loss from leaching A carboniferous tropical rainforest is an evergreen forest – leaves grow all year Runoff

7. Steppe and prairie grasslands B L S Gain from precipitation Gain from weathering Loss from leaching Runoff

8. Northern coniferous forest (Taiga) B L S Gain from precipitation Gain from weathering Loss from leaching Runoff

10. Factors influencing the stores and transfers of nutrients

11. Homework Complete a written comparison of the selvas (tropical rainforest) nutrient cycle, the prairie nutrient cycle and the taiga nutrient cycle.