Biology A Unit 8: Carbon Cycle
One molecule of glucose can release a total of _____ molecules of ATP during its breakdown.
36
To generate this chemical energy, plants need to take in carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis can be represented by the following formula:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy→ C6H12O6 + 6O2
cellular respiration can be shown with a formula (as seen below):
6O2 + C6H12O6 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
What is a limitation of using a model to show the process of cellular respiration?
A model of cellular respiration can only show representations of the biochemical processes. It does not show the actual conversions and energy production that is taking place within the mitochondria.
What does it mean to be anaerobic?
Anaerobic means taking place without oxygen present.
What is the fate of animals that make shells as climate change occurs?
Animals in the oceans that make shells are in trouble because the oceans are acidifying as more carbon dioxide is absorbed by the water. The animals are unable to pull out the chemicals they need to make their shells from the water, which leaves them vulnerable.
How does respiration contribute to the carbon cycle?
Animals that breathe on land or in the water release carbon dioxide from their bodies. This carbon dioxide either goes into the air or the water where it cycles through other places.
What is another way in which living things store carbon?
Animals that make shells take carbon out of the water or air to form their shells.
Carbon Reservoir Rock Atmosphere Ocean Surface ocean Deep ocean Reactive sediments Terrestrial biosphere Plant biomass Soil carbon Fossil fuels
Approximate Storage of Carbon (GtC) 65,000,000 800 Total: 44,000 1,000 37,000 6,000 Total: 2,850 550 2,300 10,000
Carbon dioxide can diffuse directly from the air into the water.
Aquatic plants and algae take in the carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and it is then released through cellular respiration. However, as climate change has caused global shifts in the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, the oceans are taking in more and more. This causes them to become very acidic and harmful to organisms
What is the relationship between fossil fuels, human activity, and the carbon cycle?
As humans burn fossil fuels, they are adding more and more carbon into the atmosphere. As a result, the temperature of the planet is increasing. This, in turn, is causing the polar ice caps to melt and a variety of other changes to ecosystems.
How would bread made with yeast compare with bread made without it?
Bread made with yeast will be light and airy because the carbon dioxide produced bubbles to lighten the dough. Bread made without yeast will be flat and very dense.
How has human activity altered the oceans?
By adding more carbon dioxide to the air, humans are also increasing the amount of carbon in the oceans (which are already the largest reservoir on the planet). This increased carbon level decreases the pH of the water making it more acidic. This poses problems for the marine life, especially those animals that build shells.
How does the structure of a carbohydrate relate to the carbon cycle?
Carbohydrates are organic molecules, meaning they are composed of carbon and other atoms. The carbon for these molecules comes from the environment when dead organisms are decomposed.
What is the transfer of carbon that occurs between the environment and living things during decomposition?
Dead organisms are broken down during decomposition and their chemical parts are released back into the environment. These chemical parts are carbon-containing compounds. The compounds serve as the basis for the formation of new life.
What is different about the resawards?
Each of these reservoirs holds different amounts of carbon
Sources that contribute carbon in the atmosphere
Factories and automobiles also contribute to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels (such as coal and oil) cause tons of carbon dioxide to enter the air. Another source of carbon contributing to the carbon cycle is the decomposition of dead organisms. Since all living things on Earth are based on carbon (meaning they are composed of carbon molecules like proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) the carbon within their bodies recycles through the geosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere.
How does carbon get transferred between a fish and the atmosphere?
Fish are animals, which means they perform cellular respiration. This releases carbon dioxide into the water, which can eventually make its way into the atmosphere. Additionally, when the fish die, their bodies are decomposed and this releases carbon back into the environment. This carbon can also cycle back into the atmosphere.
What role do fungi play in the carbon cycle?
Fungi are responsible for the recycling of carbon through the geosphere. These organisms break down dead organisms, releasing the carbon trapped within back into the soil. This carbon acts as nutrients for the next generation of plants.
How have humans impacted the carbon cycle?
Humans have changed the carbon cycle by adding additional carbon to the atmosphere. This has happened from the burning of fossil fuels.
How does the production of bread dough relate to the cycling of carbon in the carbon cycle?
Just like every other instance of cellular respiration: making bread dough cycles carbon by having the yeast break down the glucose in the dough to produce carbon dioxide.
Do the oceans or terrestrial biosphere have greater storage of carbon?
Oceans, because so much of the earth is covered by oceans.
Many efforts are being made to try to curb the impact of climate change. What do you think you can do to help reduce the effects of climate change?
One effort being made to curb the amount of carbon in the atmosphere is recycling more materials. The production of new materials takes a lot of resources so, by reusing what has already been made, no new resources would have to be employed. Recycling paper, plastic, and glass can help cut down on carbon emissions. A second way to reduce carbon in the air is to reduce the amount one drives or to drive a more environmentally friendly car. Hybrid or electric autos use electric engines and produce no emissions. If everyone had one of these vehicles there would be very little carbon released into the air.
Not every country supports the science that shows climate change is happening and that human activity is the main cause. What are some arguments that could be made to try to persuade the leaders of these nations?
One of the greatest pieces of evidence that supports the claim that the planet is getting warmer is the relationship between the amount of carbon dioxide and global temperatures. There is significant data that shows the amount of carbon dioxide in the air increasing over time and how the average global temperature has also increased in the same time period. Additionally, there is also significant data that shows how major storms, such as hurricanes, have increased in frequency and intensity over the past 100 years (the same time period when carbon dioxide levels have increased dramatically).
What is the importance of photosynthesis to the amount of carbon stored in a reservoir?
Photosynthesis is how most of the carbon is removed from the atmosphere and brought into the other reservoirs (like the oceans, soil, and terrestrial biosphere). This process takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it into glucose, which plants use for energy.
How does photosynthesis compare with cellular respiration in terms of carbon cycling?
Photosynthesis is how most of the carbon is removed from the atmosphere and brought into the other reservoirs (like the oceans, soil, and terrestrial biosphere). This process takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it into glucose, which plants use for energy. Cellular respiration breaks apart glucose to release the energy it contains. The products of one reaction are the reactants of the other, so carbon is constantly being cycled through ecosystems.
What molecules does photosynthesis produce?
Photosynthesis produces glucose and oxygen.
What is the relationship, in terms of carbon cycling, between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
Photosynthesis takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it into glucose, which is a carbon sugar. Cellular respiration breaks down glucose to release its energy. At the same time, carbon dioxide is also released. The reactants of one process are the products of the other.
How does photosynthesis contribute to the carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing the amount of carbon in the air. At the same time, photosynthesis also produces glucose, which is a carbon compound. This carbon gets transferred to other organisms when they eat the producers or when the producer itself performs cellular respiration to break down the glucose for energy.
Where does photosynthesis take place in a plant?
Photosynthesis takes place in organelles called chloroplasts located inside of plant cells.
carbon sinks or reservoirs.
Places where carbon is stored
What makes up the basis of an aquatic food chain?
Plankton (microscopic organisms that get eaten by other organisms) makes up the first step in an aquatic food chain.
What types of organisms would be considered producers?
Plants and trees are the main producers on land. Algae and bacteria are the main producers in the water.
Why do plants in the tropical rainforest have such large leaves?
Plants in the tropical rainforest have such large leaves because they need to collect as much sunlight as possible. Those leaves close to the forest floor are shaded by the thick canopy of taller trees so they do not get much sunlight. Having large, wide leaves increases their chances of capturing light for photosynthesis.
Knowing that plants perform photosynthesis, how can they be used to help combat climate change?
Plants take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and convert it into sugars. Since they act as a natural reservoir, it would make sense to plant as many trees, shrubs, grasses, etc. as possible in an effort to reduce the amount of carbon in the air.
How does photosynthesis relate to the cycling of carbon through the environment?
Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and separate the carbon and the oxygen. The carbon is combined with other elements (specifically oxygen and hydrogen) to form a carbon-containing molecule called glucose. This glucose will then be broken down to release the energy it contains.
Reservoir Plant Biomass Atmosphere Oceans Fossil deposits Soil Deep ocean sediments
Residence Time (years) 9 variable 422 10,000,000 38 3,000
What would be a benefit of using a model to show the process of photosynthesis?
Since photosynthesis is such a complicated process, using a model would allow for it to be shown in a more understandable fashion, as well as simulating how the different parts of the process fit together.
What is the alternate cellular respiration pathway yeast uses to produce alcohol?
The alternate pathway used by yeast to produce alcohol is called fermentation.
How is the amount of carbon measured?
The amount of carbon is measured in units called gigatonnes (GtC).
If colonization on Mars is to ever happen, how could the atmosphere be changed to support life as we know it? What limitations exist?
The atmosphere of Mars needs to be changed from a carbon dioxide-based atmosphere to an oxygen-based one. That would mean growing millions and millions of plants on the surface. Since plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, the potential is there for the change to occur. Of course, this kind of change on a planetary scale would take thousands of years. Additionally, the soil on Mars is not hospitable for growing plants.
How does the ocean get its influx of carbon?
The carbon diffused directly from the atmosphere into the water
What happens to carbon in plants when the plants die?
The carbon will be released into the soil for use by the next generation.
What is the energy molecule of the cell called?
The energy molecule of the cell is called ATP or adenosine triphosphate.
What gas is primarily involved with the carbon cycle?
The gas is called carbon dioxide.
What gas is primarily involved with the carbon cycle?
The gas is called carbon dioxide.
What is the geosphere?
The geosphere is the solid part of Earth. It includes the crust and the interior of Earth.
What is the importance of the hydrosphere to the carbon cycle?
The hydrosphere is all of the water on the planet. Contained mostly in the oceans, the hydrosphere serves as both a carbon source and a carbon sink. The organisms living in the water perform cellular respiration, which produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. As a sink, the oceans store a lot of the carbon (both from the atmosphere and from the organisms living within it).
What are the inputs and outputs for photosynthesis?
The inputs for photosynthesis include carbon dioxide, water, light energy, and chlorophyll. The outputs include glucose and oxygen.
In which sphere would one find the most carbon dioxide?
The largest reservoir of carbon dioxide on Earth is the ocean or the hydrosphere.
What is the importance of the lithosphere to the carbon cycle?
The lithosphere is the solid part of the planet. It includes the rocks and the soil found on land. As living things die, their bodies are broken down by decomposers. This releases the carbon stored within their bodies back into the soil. The carbon acts as a nutrient to help new plants grow in those areas.
What is the main carbon reservoir for living things?
The main carbon reservoir for living things is trees and other producers. This is due to photosynthesis taking carbon dioxide out of the air.
What is the main function of cellular respiration?
The main function of cellular respiration is to produce energy for the organism.
What is the main way carbon cycles from the atmosphere to the biosphere?
The main way carbon cycles from the atmosphere to the biosphere is through photosynthesis.
Which of the four areas affected by the carbon cycle contains the oceans?
The oceans are located within the hydrosphere.
What is the largest storage area of carbon on Earth?
The oceans are the largest storage area for carbon on Earth.
carbon cycle
The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again
From where does the oxygen produced by photosynthesis arise?
The oxygen produced as a by-product of photosynthesis originates from the water molecules used in the reaction.
How is the residence time of a carbon atom calculated?
The residence time is calculated by dividing the amount of carbon in the reservoir by the rate of input or output.
What parts would be included in a basic model showing the cycling of carbon from photosynthesis?
The simple model would show the sun, a plant, carbon dioxide, and water entering the plant and oxygen being released. It would also have some mention of the glucose produced during the process.
Animals that make shells are especially in danger because the chemicals they use to build their shells dissolve in acids.
The slightest increase in acidity can cause the shells not to form.
Where are the stomata located on a plant?
The stomata are located on the undersides of the plant leaves.
carbon sink
a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
photosynthetic organism
a living thing that performs photosynthesis to make energy for itself
ATP
adenosine triphosphate
Biosphere
all life on Earth
biomass
all the living (or formerly living) material in an ecosystem
reservoir
area that stores carbon
carbon atoms
atoms of carbon, which are part of carbon dioxide) either taken in from the environment or produced by the organisms themselves.
hydrogen atoms
atoms of hydrogen, which are part of water molecules
oxygen atoms
atoms of oxygen, which are part of water and carbon dioxide molecules
One way carbon moves from the atmosphere to the
biosphere (the area containing all living things) is through photosynthesis.
A table compares the products and reactants of processes. For which process would water be listed as a product?
cellular respiration
carbon fluxes
changes in the amount of carbon over time
oceans
contain the largest reservoir of carbon because of their vast coverage of the planet and the fact that they are in direct contact with the atmosphere. However, water in extremely deep areas of the ocean lacks this contact so carbon exchange at depth is limited.
marine snow
dead biomass falling from the upper areas of the water column to the lower areas
artificial
human-made, not natural
terrestrial biosphere
includes organisms on land and in freshwater systems, as well as organic matter found in soil. The oceans include the dissolved inorganic carbon in the water. Sediments include all of the fossil fuels found in the ground.
The carbon cycle
involves the movement of carbon between the four main reservoirs. These include the: atmosphere oceans sediments terrestrial biosphere
Photosynthesis
is the way organisms (such as plants and algae) convert light energy into chemical energy.
plankton
microscopic organisms living in the water; serves as the basis of the food chain
stomata
openings on the undersides of leaves that are the sites of gas exchange
Besides carbon, which other element is moved through the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere via the carbon cycle?
oxygen
biosphere
part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere
photosynthesis
process by which autotrophs convert light energy into chemical energy
keystone species
species upon which success of the ecosystem depends
Atmosphere
the blanket of gases that surrounds Earth, made mainly of nitrogen and oxygen
residence time
the duration a carbon atom spends in a reservoir
atmosphere
the layer of gases surrounding a planet
fast carbon cycle
the movement of carbon between reservoirs
flux
the movement of carbon from one reservoir to another
Geosphere
the solid Earth, including the crust and Earth's interior
Hydrosphere
the water (liquid and frozen) on and below the surface; oceans, rivers, streams, aquifers, glaciers
How do the animals in the desert exchange carbon with the atmosphere?
Just like in the oceans, animals in the desert perform cellular respiration (which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere).
Which area is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth?
Rocks and sediments store more carbon than anywhere else.
What is a possible explanation for this difference in carbon impact?
The deserts are located in areas that are usually far away from human influence. There are not many factories or cars found in the desert so the immediate impact of carbon emissions is lower.
What gas is primarily involved with the carbon cycle?
The gas is called carbon dioxide.
Why is there so little carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere compared to Venus and Mars?
The planet Earth has something those two planets do not have - life. Plants, for example, take carbon out of the air to use during photosynthesis. This dramatically reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
How would the carbon exchange between the desert and the atmosphere differ from that between the rainforest and the atmosphere?
The tropical rainforests have many more plants than the deserts. This means there is a lot more photosynthesis taking place, which takes in a lot more carbon dioxide. Also, the tropical rainforests have much more biodiversity performing cellular respiration so the amount of carbon dioxide given off is also larger.
How does one animal eating another add to the carbon cycle?
When one animal eats another, it consumes all of the carbon within the prey's body. This carbon is incorporated into the animal's own body (mostly through nutrients used for growth and metabolism). When the predator dies its body gets broken down by decomposers, releasing the carbon back into the environment.
