What happens to matter in a Ecosystem

nutrient cycle

Continual movement of the elements and compounds that make up nutrients through air, water, soil, rock, and living organisms within ecosystems. The process is driven by energy from the sun and by Earth's gravity. Some specific nutrient cycles are the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and hydrologic cycles.

Hydrologic cycle

Cycle that collects, purifies, and distributes Earth's fixed supply of water.

Carbon cycle

Cyclic movement of carbon in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment.

Nitrogen cycle

Cyclic movement of nitrogen in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment.

phosphorus cycle

Cyclic movement of phosphorus through water, Earth's crust, and living organisms.

Aquifer

Porous, water-saturated layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock in which groundwater collects.

Surface runoff

Precipitation that falls on land and flows over land surfaces into streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and the ocean, where it can evaporate and repeat the hydrologic cycle.

Groundwater

Precipitation that seeps into the soil and collects in an aquifer. Compare runoff, surface water.