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20: Biogeochemical Cycles

  • Page ID
    69921
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    Learning Objectives
    • Summarize the concept of biogeochemical cycles
    • Explain the hydrologic cycle and its importance for Ecology
    • Distinguish between the biological and biogeochemical cycles of carbon
    • Describe the nitrogen cycle and its various pools and fluxes
    • Illustrate the phosphorus cycle and the effects of phosphorus on the environment
    • Define eutrophication and dead zones and their importance for Ecology
    • Explain the sulfur cycle

    Summary

    This chapter discusses earths major biological and biogeochemical cycles including cycling of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur.  After a brief introduction to biogeochemical cycles and a review of the hydrologic cycle, the pools and fluxes of the major elemental cycles are introduced.  Effects of the changes in the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles caused by humans are also discussed including the concepts of eutrophication and dead zones in aquatic and marine systems.  


    20: Biogeochemical Cycles is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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