Biogeochemical Cycles

Question

Why is cycling ______important? (Choose one: carbon, water, nitrogen). Be specific and use appropriate terminology specific to your chosen cycle.

Answer 1

Hello Edwin;

My name is Ron P. and I am a tutor here on Wyzant.

This is an interesting question and a frequently asked one as well.

While our Academic Honesty Policy prohibits me from answering your question directly, perhaps I can get you going in the right direction.

All nutrients minerals, water, air, etc. are in a finite supply. That supply must be constantly "recycled" or else we would eventually use up all of our vital resources and be left with nothing.

Carbon, for example, exists in three known natural isotopes. It is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth's crust. It is also necessary for all life on Earth.

However, carbon forms bonds in many different ways and with many other elements to form various vital compounds. Not all lifeforms can use carbon in every form. Carbon must be in a form that is "available" for a life form that will use it. Carbon is converted into its various compounds by different biochemical, physical, and geologic processes.

An analogy might be your favorite pair of blue jeans. You wear them because they look great on you, they are comfortable, they fit just right. So, you wear them to a party and they get dirty (spilled drinks, food, mud because you were playing tag football in the rain, etc.).

Now you can't use them because they are trashed. You don't throw them away, do you? Of course not because they are your best jeans. What do you do? My guess is that you wash (recycle) them so that you can use them again, and again.

Well, nature works the same way (only through multiple processes (usually more complex than simply washing them) over long periods of time, etc. An oversimplification perhaps, but you get the idea.

Knowing this, you can now do a little research into which specific cycle you want to explore, and you can reconsider the original question.

I hope this helps.

If you feel that you need further work on nutrient cycling in nature, feel free to schedule a tutoring session with me here on Wyzant.

Sincerely Ron P.

P.S. You can do this.