Question

Importance of biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems

Answer 1

The most important biogeochemical cycles are the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle, phosphorus cycle, and the water cycle. The biogeochemical cycles always have a state of equilibrium. The state of equilibrium occurs when there is a balance in the cycling of the elements between compartments.

Answer 2

Answer :

i. Biogeochemical cycle is a circular pathway by which a chemical element such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc., are cycled through both living (bio) and non-living (geo) compartments of an ecosystem.

ii. The cycles move substances through the biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.

iii. Biogeochemical cycles are of two types-gaseous and sedimentary.

iv. Gaseous cycles include nitrogen, oxygen, carbon and water. These elements cycle through evaporation, absorption by plants.

v. Sedimentary cycles include the leeching of minerals and salts from the Earth's crust, which then settle as sediment or rock before the cycle repeats.

vi. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, during photosynthesis makes air breathable.

vii. Plants also acquire nutrients from sediment. Animals acquire nutrients from plants and other animals, and the death of plants and animals returns these nutrients to the sediment as they decay.

viii. The cycle then repeats and allows other living things to benefit.

ix. The example of biogeochemical cycles is the water cycle. Water evaporates from the oceans, condenses as clouds and precipitates as rain, which returns the water back to the earth in a cycle.