Integrated Science

• Water Cycle


  The continuous movement of water between the Earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land
• Carbon Cycle


  Concerned with the movement of Carbon through the environment, exchanged between atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms
• Nitrogen Cycle


  The movement of Nitrogen, an essential element for life, exchanged between the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms
• Biogeochemical cycles


  Cycles that involve different molecules that are essential for life and how they circulate through an ecosystem and the biosphere
• Molecules involved in biogeochemical cycles

  • Water (H2O)
  • Oxygen
  • Hydrogen
  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
• Characteristics of biogeochemical cycles

  • Molecules are recycled through ecosystems and the biosphere
  • Matter is constantly recycled, while energy flows through ecosystems
• Water cycle


  1. Water evaporates

  2. Water condenses into clouds

  3. Water rains down

  4. Water is used by living organisms
• Carbon cycle


  1. Plants use light energy and CO2 to fix carbon

  2. Carbon is stored in plant biomass

  3. Animals consume plants and release CO2

  4. Decomposers break down organic matter and release CO2
• Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere
• Oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are important gases in the atmosphere
• Biogeochemical cycles involve the recycling of essential molecules for life
• Biogeochemical cycles


  Pathways of matter where essential elements of living organisms are circulated
• Water cycle


  1. Evaporation

  2. Condensation

  3. Precipitation

  4. Infiltration

  5. Surface runoff

  6. Transpiration
• Oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle


  1. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen

  2. Animals take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide
• Photosynthesis


  Process where plants use carbon dioxide to create simple sugars or food, releasing oxygen as a byproduct
• Cellular respiration


  Complex process where oxygen interacts with glucose to produce energy for organisms
• Nitrogen cycle


  1. Nitrogen fixation

  2. Nitrification

  3. Denitrification
• Nitrogen fixation


  Process where certain bacteria and algae convert nitrogen gas into nitrates
• Nitrification


  Process where bacteria convert nitrogen compounds into nitrites and then nitrates
• Denitrification


  Process where bacteria release nitrogen from nitrates back into the atmosphere
• Phosphorus cycle


  1. Weathering of phosphorus-containing rocks

  2. Absorption by plants

  3. Incorporation into animals

  4. Decomposition and release back to environment

  5. Leaching into water bodies

  6. Sedimentation
• Stomata are tiny openings or pores in plant tissue that allow for gas exchange
• Photosynthesis produces food for plants and uses carbon dioxide
• Cellular respiration uses oxygen to release energy for organisms