Big Picture

Week 3: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are
expected to:
a. Describe the paths in which carbon move throughout the environment;
b. Determine how human actions influences the carbon cycle.

Big picture in Focus: ULOa. Describe the paths in which carbon

move throughout the environment.

A. Metalanguage
What makes chemical organic? What makes your fart, gas of your
stoves, and even gas emitted by the vehicles differ?

Reservoir of carbon

The global carbon cycle is now usually divided into the following major
reservoirs of carbon interconnected by pathways of exchange:
a. Atmosphere
b. Terrestrial Biosphere
c. Ocean
d. Geosphere

The carbon exchanges between reservoirs occur as the result of

various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes. The ocean
contains the largest active pool of carbon near the surface of the Earth. The
natural flows of carbon between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial
ecosystems, and sediments are fairly balanced so that carbon levels would be
roughly stable without human influence.

a. Atmosphere

Carbon in the Earth's atmosphere exists in two main

forms: carbon dioxide and methane. Both of these gases absorb and
retain heat in the atmosphere and are partially responsible for
the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is removed from the
atmosphere primarily through photosynthesis and enters the terrestrial
and oceanic biospheres. Carbon dioxide also dissolves directly from
the atmosphere into bodies of water (ocean, lakes, etc.)

b. Terrestrial Biosphere
 The terrestrial biosphere includes the organic carbon in all land-
living organisms, both alive and dead, as well as carbon stored in soils.
Organic carbon is a major component of all organisms living on
earth. Autotrophs extract it from the air in the form of carbon dioxide,
converting it into organic carbon, while heterotrophs receive carbon by
consuming other organisms.

c. Ocean

Carbon enters the ocean mainly through the dissolution of

atmospheric carbon dioxide, a small fraction of which is converted
into carbonate. It can also enter the ocean through rivers as dissolved
organic carbon. It is converted by organisms into organic carbon
through photosynthesis and can either be exchanged throughout the
food chain or precipitated into the oceans' deeper, more carbon-rich
layers as dead soft tissue or in shells as calcium carbonate.

d. Geosphere

Most of the earth's carbon is stored inertly in the

earth's lithosphere. Much of the carbon stored in the earth's mantle
was stored there when the earth formed. Carbon can leave the
geosphere in several ways. Carbon dioxide is released during
the metamorphism of carbonate rocks when they are subducted into
the earth's mantle. This carbon dioxide can be released into the
atmosphere and ocean through volcanoes and hotspots. It can also be
removed by humans through the direct extraction of kerogens in the
form of fossil fuels. After extraction, fossil fuels are burned to release
energy and emit the carbon they store into the atmosphere.

Human Influence

Since the industrial revolution, human activity has modified the carbon

cycle by changing its components' functions and directly adding carbon to the
atmosphere. Some of these are:

a. Burning of fossil fuels- fossil fuels contain carbon and by

burning it, it releases the stored carbon into the atmosphere.

b. Deforestation- The permanent removal of trees from forests.

Plants absorbed carbon dioxide and as a result it increases the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

c. Carbon sequestration- The process when plants remove

carbon dioxide from the air and store it.
 d. Geologic sequestration- The process of injecting carbon
dioxide captured from an industrial or energy-related sources
into deep subsurface rock formations for long-term storage.

Source: http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2008/03/03/geo-sequestration/
Fig. 3.1 Carbon Sequestration options

Big picture in Focus: ULOb. Determine how human actions

influences the carbon cycle.

A. Metalanguage

Where does all the carbon in organisms originate from? How is carbon
used today? How carbon is create? What happens to carbon in the carbon
cycle?

B. Essential Knowledge
The Carbon Cycle

All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air,
and even rocks. Because the Earth is a dynamic place, carbon does not stay
still. It is on the move! Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and traps heat in
the atmosphere. Without it and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be a
frozen world.

Source: https://www.sciencefacts.net/carbon-cycle.html
Fig. 3.2 Diagram of Carbon Cycle

Figure 3.2 explains how carbon has been used and recycle in
nature. Carbon can be found in atmosphere or in the Earth’s crust through
fossils and fossil fuel. In atmosphere, carbon interact with oxygen to form
carbon dioxide, it is also produced by the plants and animals through
respiration, as well as can be produced through decomposition. When we
harness fossil fuels and use (see fig 3.2 through combustion) we releases the
stored carbon present in the fossils, thus we release carbon in the
atmosphere. Normally, plants and other microbes uses carbon dioxide to
make their own food (sugar or monosaccharide) thus making the cycle
continue. Carbon can go back in the Earth’s crust when an organism die or
through other ways.
Why is Carbon Cycle Important?

Primary Function of the Carbon Cycle: To maintain the balance of

carbon in nature. Since atmospheric carbon dioxide determines the rate of
photosynthesis by the producers, which acts as the primary source of food
production on earth, the carbon cycle helps to sustain life on earth.

How does Deforestation affect the carbon cycle?

As trees and forests balance the amount of carbon in the atmosphere

through photosynthesis, excessive cutting of trees increases the carbon
dioxide level in the atmosphere, thus raising the temperature of the earth. This
is one of the primary reasons for the negative greenhouse effects and global
warming.

Effects of Changing the Carbon Cycle

The changes in the carbon cycle impact each reservoir. Excess carbon in
the atmosphere warms the planet and helps plants on land grow more.
Excess carbon in the ocean makes the water more acidic, putting marine life
in danger. All of this extra carbon needs to go somewhere. So far, land plants
and the ocean have taken up about 55 percent of the extra carbon people
have put into the atmosphere while about 45 percent has stayed in the
atmosphere.

Atmosphere

It is significant that so much carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere because

CO2 is the most important gas for controlling Earth’s temperature. Water
vapor concentrations in the air are controlled by Earth’s temperature. Warmer
temperatures evaporate more water from the oceans, expand air masses, and
lead to higher humidity. Cooling causes water vapor to condense and fall out
as rain, sleet, or snow. So while carbon dioxide contributes less to the overall
greenhouse effect than water vapor, scientists have found that carbon dioxide
is the gas that sets the temperature. Carbon dioxide controls the amount of
water vapor in the atmosphere and thus the size of the greenhouse effect.

Ocean

About 30 percent of the carbon dioxide that people have put into the
atmosphere has diffused into the ocean through the direct chemical
exchange. Dissolving carbon dioxide in the ocean creates carbonic acid,
which increases the acidity of the water. Warmer oceans—a product of the
greenhouse effect—could also decrease the abundance of phytoplankton,
 which grow better in cool, nutrient-rich waters. This could limit the ocean’s
ability to take carbon from the atmosphere through the fast carbon cycle.

Land

With more atmospheric carbon dioxide available to convert to plant matter in

photosynthesis, plants were able to grow more. This increased growth is
referred to as carbon fertilization. The biggest changes in the land carbon
cycle are likely to come because of climate change. Carbon dioxide increases
temperatures, extending the growing season and increasing humidity. Both
factors have led to some additional plant growth. However, warmer
temperatures also stress plants. With a longer, warmer growing season,
plants need more water to survive. Scientists are already seeing evidence that
plants in the Northern Hemisphere slow their growth in the summer because
of warm temperatures and water shortages.

Big Picture

Week 4: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOa): At the end of the unit, you are
expected to:
a. List and describe the processes involved in nitrogen cycle;
b. Understand the effects of too much nitrogen in the ecosystem.

Big picture in Focus: ULOa. List and describe the processes

involved in nitrogen cycle.

A. Metalanguage

How important is nitrogen cycle? What organism uses this compound?

Can we live without this process?

B. Essential Knowledge
The Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is

converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates
among atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems. The majority
of Earth's atmosphere (78%) is atmosphere nitrogen, making it the largest
source of nitrogen. However, atmospheric nitrogen has limited availability for
biological use, leading to a scarcity of usable nitrogen in many types
of ecosystems. Human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, use of
artificial nitrogen fertilizers, and release of nitrogen in wastewater have
dramatically altered the global nitrogen cycle. Human modification of the
global nitrogen cycle can negatively affect the natural environment system
and also human health.

Nitrogen Cycle Processes

The processes in the nitrogen cycle is to transform nitrogen from one form to
another. Many of those processes are carried out by microbes, either in their
effort to harvest energy or to accumulate nitrogen in a form needed for their
growth. Below are the process of Nitrogen cycle:
a. Nitrogen Fixation (N2 to NH3/ NH4+ or NO3-)
b. Nitrification (NH3 to NO3-)
c. Assimilation (Incorporation of NH3 and NO3- into biological
tissues)
d. Ammonification (organic nitrogen compounds to NH3)
e. Denitrification (NO3- to N2)

Source: https://socratic.org/questions/how-would-you-explain-the-nitrogen-cycle
Fig. 4.1 Schematic diagram of Nitrogen cycle

a. Nitrogen Fixation
 The conversion of nitrogen gas (N 2) into nitrates and nitrites through
atmospheric, industrial and biological processes is called nitrogen fixation.
Atmospheric nitrogen must be processed, or "fixed", into a usable form to be
taken up by plants. Between 5 and 10 billion kg per year are fixed
by lightning strikes, but most fixation is done by free-living
or symbiotic bacteria 

b. Nitrification

The conversion of ammonium to nitrate is performed primarily by soil-

living bacteria and other nitrifying bacteria. In the primary stage of nitrification,
the oxidation of ammonium (NH+4) is performed by bacteria , which converts
ammonia to nitrites (NO−2). 

c. Assimilation

Plants can absorb nitrate or ammonium from the soil by their root hairs.
If nitrate is absorbed, it is first reduced to nitrite ions and then ammonium ions
for incorporation into amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll.  While many
animals, fungi, and other heterotrophic organisms obtain nitrogen by ingestion
of amino acids, nucleotides, and other small organic molecules, other
heterotrophs (including many bacteria) are able to utilize inorganic
compounds, such as ammonium as sole nitrogen sources. 

d. Ammonification

When a plant or animal dies or an animal expels waste, the initial form
of nitrogen is organic. Bacteria or fungi convert the organic nitrogen within the
remains back into ammonium (NH+4), a process called ammonification
or mineralization. 

e. Denitrification

Denitrification is the reduction of nitrates back into nitrogen gas (N 2),

completing the nitrogen cycle. This process is performed by bacterial species
such as Pseudomonas and Paracoccus, under anaerobic conditions. They
use the nitrate as an electron acceptor in the place of oxygen during
respiration.

Importance of Nitrogen Cycle

The delicate balance of substances that is important for maintaining life is

an important area of research, and the balance of nitrogen in the environment
is no exception. Nitrogen is important for all living things. It is a component in
DNA, proteins, and chlorophyll in plants. Disrupting the nitrogen cycle can
lead to imbalances in ecosystems. When plants lack nitrogen, they become
yellowed, with stunted growth, and produce smaller fruits and flowers.
 Farmers may add fertilizers containing nitrogen to their crops, to increase crop
growth. Without nitrogen fertilizers, scientists estimate that we would lose up
to one third of the crops we rely on for food and other types of agriculture. But
we need to know how much nitrogen is necessary for plant growth, because
too much can pollute waterways, hurting aquatic life.

Big picture in Focus: ULOb. Understand the effects of too much

nitrogen in the ecosystem.

A. Metalanguage

What will happen if there are too much nitrogen compound in an

ecosystem? How do this happen? Can the organism survive if there are too
much of this compound?

Other Sources of Nitrogen

The main source of nitrogen include: atmospheric precipitation,

geological sources, agricultural land, livestock and poultry operations and
urban waste. However, sometimes nitrogen in soil are not enough and natural
sources are scarce due to this, farmers find new and alternative way to fix this
problem. Man-made or synthetic nitrogen is the backbone of industrial
agriculture with this farmers are able to grow abundant of crops that could
ease the hunger of the world.

Organic vs Synthetic fertilizer

Organic Fertilizers are materials derived from plant and animal parts

or residues. Examples are, Compost, Manure, Seaweed, and Worm Castings.
While Synthetic Fertilizers are “Man-made” inorganic compounds - usually
derived from by-products of the petroleum industry. Examples are Ammonium
Nitrate, Ammonium Phosphate, Superphosphate, and Potassium Sulfate.
Plants cannot distinguish between an organic or synthetic fertilizer – the
nutrients are processed in exactly the same way.  However, the similarity
stops there. Chemical fertilizers add nutrients to the soil, but they don’t add
anything else. Plants needs more than just nutrients to survive. They also
need organic matter and living organisms. Synthetic fertilizers do not support
microbiological life in the soil. The application of a synthetic fertilizer actually
kills a significant percentage of beneficial microorganisms.  These tiny
creatures are responsible for breaking down organic matter into a stable
amendment for improving soil quality and fertility.  Some convert nitrogen from
the air into a plant useable form.

Problems of Excess Nitrogen in an Ecosystem

Too much good is bad!. Excess nitrogen in an ecosystem creates a

problem. Some of these problems are:

a. Too much nitrogen in plants

Too much nitrogen causes plants to become spindly with frail stems.

As the foliage continues to grow abundantly, the weak stems become less
able to support the plant. Additionally, root growth is stunted, which leads to
even less plant support. Eventually, the plant dies because it can no longer
support itself.

Source: https://ask.extension.org/questions/335752 Source: https://www.thespruce.com/plant-nutrient-

deficiencies-1402496

Fig. 4.2 Too much nitrogen in soil Fig. 4.3 Not enough nitrogen in
soil

b. Eutrophication

Eutrophication most commonly arises from the oversupply of nutrients,

most commonly as nitrogen or phosphorus, which leads to overgrowth of
plants and algae in aquatic ecosystems. After such organisms die, bacterial
degradation of their biomass results in oxygen consumption, thereby creating
the state of hypoxia.
 Source: https://onlinesciencenotes.com/eutrophication-causes-effects-and-controlling-measures/
Fig. 4.4 Process of eutrophication

Causes and Types of eutrophication:

 Natural causes (Natural eutrophication):

 This occurs because of the natural process of aging of lakes
during which, nutrition status of water system gradually increases
and oligotrophic lake is converted into a eutrophic lake.
 Similarly, death of aquatic plants and animals also increases
nitrate and phosphate content of water.
 It permits the production of phytoplankton, algal blooms and
aquatic vegetation (water hyacinth, aquatic weeds, water fern and
water lettuce) that provide ample food for herbivorous zooplankton
and fish.
 Man-made causes (Cultural eutrophication):
 This process is generally speeded up by human activities.
 They are responsible for the addition of 80% nitrogen and 75%
phosphorus to lakes and streams.
 Use of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) fertilizers,
discharge of domestic and industrial wastes, detergents, urban
drainage, animal wastes and sediments into water bodies leads to
cultural eutrophication.

Controlling measures of eutrophication:

  Waste water like sewage must be properly treated before discharging it
into water bodies.
 Algal blooms after death before further decomposition should be
removed from water, which otherwise would further generate plant
nutrients during decomposition.
 Use phosphate free detergents to reduce eutrophication.
 Growth of algae in water can also be controlled by applying algaecides
such as CuSO4.
 Nitrate and phosphate should be removed from waste water before
disposal into river, for which physico-chemical methods like
precipitation, nitrification, denitrification, electro-dialysis, reverse
osmosis and ion-exchange methods can be adopted.
 Prevent flooding of water from agricultural soil containing fertilizers to
water system.

Big Picture

Week 4: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are
expected to:

a. Explain the importance of phosphorus cycle in the environment;

b. Explain the importance of sulfur cycle in the environment.

Big picture in Focus: ULOa. Explain the importance of phosphorus cycle

in the environment

A. Metalanguage

How important is phosphorus cycle? What are the organisms that

benefits this cycle? Are there any environmental problems associated with
this cycle?
B. Essential Knowledge

Phosphorus in the Environment

The phosphorus cycle, Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles,

the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movement of
phosphorus, because phosphorus and phosphorus-based compounds are
usually solids at the typical ranges of temperature and pressure found on
Earth. The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the
movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere,
and biosphere.

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and animals. Phosphorus is

a limiting nutrient for aquatic organisms. Phosphorus forms parts of important
life-sustaining molecules that are very common in the biosphere. 

Source: https://ib.bioninja.com.au/options/option-c-ecology-and-conser/c6-nitrogen-and-phosphorus/phosphorus-cycle.html
Fig. 4.5 Phosphorus cycling in Nature

Phosphorus Cycling
The phosphorus cycle is a slow process, which involves five key steps, as
shown in the diagram above (figure 4.5) and described as follows:

1. Weathering- the main source of phosphorus is found in rocks, the

first step of the phosphorus cycle involves the extraction of phosphorus
from the rocks by weathering. Weather events, such as rain and other
sources of erosion, result in phosphorus being washed into the soil.

2. Once in the soil, plants, fungi, and microorganisms are able to

absorb phosphorus and grow. 

3. Plants can also directly absorb phosphorus from the water and grow.
In addition to plants, animals also obtain phosphorus from drinking
water and eating plants.

4. When plants and animals die, decomposition results in the return of

phosphorus back to the environment via the water or soil. Plants and
animals in these environments can then use this phosphorus, and step
2 of the cycle is repeated.

5. Geological uplift can help in bringing new rocks from the ground. All
this movement can cause rocks that were once underground to be
brought up to the Earth's surface. 

Human Influence

Nutrients are important to the growth and survival of living organisms, and
hence, are essential for development and maintenance of healthy
ecosystems. Humans have greatly influenced the phosphorus cycle by mining
phosphorus, converting it to fertilizer. However, excessive amounts of
nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, are detrimental to aquatic
ecosystems. Waters are enriched in phosphorus from farms' run-off, and from
effluent that is inadequately treated before it is discharged to waters.
Natural eutrophication is a process by which lakes gradually age and become
more productive and may take thousands of years to progress.

Cultural or anthropogenic eutrophication, however, is water pollution

caused by excessive plant nutrients; this results in excessive growth in the
algal population; when this algae dies its putrefaction depletes the water of
oxygen. Such eutrophication may also give rise to toxic algal bloom. Both
these effects cause animal and plant death rates to increase as the plants
take in poisonous water while the animals drink the poisoned water. Surface
and subsurface runoff and erosion from high-phosphorus soils may be major
contributing factors to this fresh water eutrophication.
Big picture in Focus: ULOb. Explain the importance of sulfur cycle
A. Metalanguage in the environment.

How important is sulfur cycle? What are the organisms that benefits this
cycle? Are there any environmental problems associated with this cycle?

B. Essential Knowledge

Sulfur in the Environment

Sulfur is important for the functioning of proteins and enzymes in plants,

and in animals that depend upon plants for sulfur. Plants absorb sulfur when it
is dissolved in water. Animals consume these plants, so that they take up
enough sulfur to maintain their health.

Source: http://thestudycircle.weebly.com/sulfur-cycle.html
Fig. 4.6 The sulfur cycle
 Sulfur Cycling

Sulfur is one of the most abundant elements on the earth. Sulfur is

present in all kinds of proteins. Plants directly absorb sulfur-containing amino
acids such as methionine, cystine, and cysteine. Sulfur is released into the
atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels, volcanic activities, and
decomposition of organic molecules. On land, sulfur is stored in underground
rocks and minerals. It is released by precipitation, weathering of rocks and
geothermal vents.
The process of sulfur cycle is explained below:

 The sulfur is released by the weathering of rocks.

 Sulfur comes in contact with air and is converted into sulfates.
 Sulfates are taken up by plants and microbes and are converted into
organic forms.
 The organic form of sulfur is then consumed by the animals through
their food and thus sulfur moves in the food chain.
 When the animals die some of the sulfur is released by decomposition
while some enter the tissues of microbes.
 There are several natural sources such as volcanic eruptions,
evaporation of water, and breakdown of organic matter in swamps, that
release sulfur directly into the atmosphere. This sulfur falls on earth
with rainfall.

Human influence

Human activities have a major effect on the global sulfur cycle. The
burning of coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels has greatly increased
the amount of S in the atmosphere and ocean and depleted the
sedimentary rock sink. Without human impact sulfur would stay tied up in
rocks for millions of years until it was uplifted through tectonic events and
then released through erosion and weathering processes. Instead it is
being drilled, pumped and burned at a steadily increasing rate.

Over the most polluted areas there has been a 30-fold increase in
sulfate deposition. When SO2 is emitted as an air pollutant, it forms sulfuric
acid through reactions with water in the atmosphere. Once the acid is
completely dissociated in water the pH can drop to 4.3 or lower causing
damage to both man-made and natural systems which could lead to an
acid rain. Acid rain can be extremely harmful to forests. Acid rain that
seeps into the ground can dissolve nutrients, such as magnesium and
calcium, that trees need to be healthy. Acid rain also causes aluminum to
be released into the soil, which makes it difficult for trees to take up water.