Biogeochemical Cycles of Race Rocks | Race Rocks Ecological Reserve-

BACKGROUND:
From the file Structure and Function of Ecosystems, we come now to that component which represents part of the Functional Aspects, the Material or Biogeochemical Cycles. In this file we will refer you to some of the cycles which are operating in ecosystems, but there are others of course, wherever minerals or ions that become part of the nutrients for plants are taken up by the plants and thus passed on through the other trophic levels or levels of nourishment.

Normally, most texts and many websites have diagrams of the cycles. ( just Google the cycle name) The approach of presenting a completed diagram is rather boring, as it is more interesting to just look around yourself in the ecosystem in which you are living and using other diagrams as models you will easily be able to build up the cycle using local examples yourself.

OBJECTIVES: After doing this assignment students will be able to:a) Construct digital image biogeochemical cycles using images of local examples.
b) Explain how biogeochemical cycles are impacted by anthropogenic activities.
c) Discuss your own responsibilities in terms of biogeochemical cycles.
d) Evaluate how you can help in dealing with the problem of sustainability of Materials cycles.

Many references on the internet give an opportunity to investigate ideas about how humans can be involved responsibly in sustainable cycles. Google “MSustainable Materials management”They deal with the issue that human activities are seriously affecting the materials cycles of the earth. What are examples of this and how can you personally do something about this?

CARBON CYCLE

Cup coral	Mussel shell	Diesel fuel	Anthropogenic Carbon
Dead kelp drift on the shore	photosynthesis in a tide pool	rockfish	Live bull kelp
Anthropogenic Methane	Dead seal- eaten by eagles and gulls	phytoplankton	Native grasses
Smoke stacks (pulp mill) across the Strait in Port Angeles

NITROGEN CYCLE

Eagle feces	air	lightning strikes	Anthropogenic Nitrous
Beach pea–Legume	Elephant seal soil– urine.	Elephant seal feces	Fish bones

PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE

Cabezon fish	bird bone	Canada geese	goose droppings
vegetation	phosphorous	lichen on rock	Fish bone

CALCIUM CYCLE

black oystercatcher eggs	pouring concrete	Bird Skeleton	coralline pink algae
California mussels	chiton with calcareous shell plates	seawater	Dead coraline algae

WATER CYCLE

water	clouds	tidepool	sun
native grasses	frost	seawater	rain
snow	drinking water	fog	Oystercatcher bathing