Biogeochemical Biogeochemical CyclesCycles

• Carbon and NitrogenCarbon and Nitrogen

LIFELIFE

• Living things contain matter in a Living things contain matter in a highly organized, low-entropy state; highly organized, low-entropy state; they can they can capture, store, and capture, store, and transmit energytransmit energy..

• Organisms are also capable of Organisms are also capable of reproduction and change through reproduction and change through time.time.

The Biological PumpThe Biological Pump

• The biological pump is The biological pump is the process by the process by which CO2 fixed in photosynthesis which CO2 fixed in photosynthesis is transferred to the oceanis transferred to the ocean interior interior resulting inresulting in a temporary or permanent a temporary or permanent storage of carbonstorage of carbon..

• This biogeochemical process This biogeochemical process involving plants, the animals that involving plants, the animals that consume them, and the bacteria consume them, and the bacteria that assimilate their waste plays a that assimilate their waste plays a central role in the global carbon central role in the global carbon cycle.cycle.

• Natural processes that recycle Natural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms nutrients in various chemical forms from the nonliving environment to from the nonliving environment to living organisms and then back to living organisms and then back to the nonliving environmentthe nonliving environment

Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles

Chemicals used by Chemicals used by organismsorganisms• Organisms use chemicals in their Organisms use chemicals in their

metabolismmetabolism

• CarbonCarbon

• OxygenOxygen

• HydrogenHydrogen

• NitrogenNitrogen (proteins, nucleic acids) (proteins, nucleic acids)

CARBONCARBON• The basic building block of lifeThe basic building block of life

• Carbon enters the atmosphere though; Carbon enters the atmosphere though;

respirationrespiration

volcanic eruptionsvolcanic eruptions

release from rocks deep in earth’s release from rocks deep in earth’s crustcrust

burning of fossil fuelsburning of fossil fuels

• Carbon dioxide is removed from the Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by atmosphere by producers producers that use that use COCO22, sunlight and nutrients to make , sunlight and nutrients to make food through the process of food through the process of photosynthesisphotosynthesis..

• Plants FIX carbon into usable forms Plants FIX carbon into usable forms (sugar)(sugar)

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

COCO

22

Phytoplankton

Photosynthesis

• Some Some COCO22 is then released back into is then released back into the waterthe water through through respirationrespiration as the as the plankton break down their food to plankton break down their food to release energy.release energy.

RespirationRespiration

COCO

22

Phytoplankton

Respiration

Photosynthesis

• Some of the carbon is passed on to Some of the carbon is passed on to primary consumersprimary consumers: zooplankton : zooplankton (animal plankton) and other filter (animal plankton) and other filter feeders that depend on feeders that depend on phytoplankton for their energy.phytoplankton for their energy.

ConsumptionConsumption

COCO

22

Phytoplankton

Zooplankton

Consumption

Respiration

Photosynthesis

• BacteriaBacteria play a vital role in the play a vital role in the

biological pump by biological pump by decomposing decomposing

organic particles such as waste organic particles such as waste

products and dead organismsproducts and dead organisms that that

sink to the deep sea (Aerobic sink to the deep sea (Aerobic

decomposition releases COdecomposition releases CO22). ).

DecompositionDecomposition

Microbial LoopMicrobial Loop• Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is used by Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is used by

bacteriabacteria

• Bacteria is eaten by protozoanBacteria is eaten by protozoan

• Protozoan are eaten by zooplanktonProtozoan are eaten by zooplankton

• Zooplankton is eaten by fishZooplankton is eaten by fish

• Fish excrete DOC Fish excrete DOC

• DOC is eaten by bacteriaDOC is eaten by bacteria

• And so on…And so on…

COCO

22

Phytoplankton

Zooplankton

Bacteria

Consumption

Deco

mpositi

on

Respiration

Photosynthesis

• Consumption continues to transport Consumption continues to transport carbon through higher trophic levels.carbon through higher trophic levels.

Higher Trophic LevelsHigher Trophic Levels

COCO

22

COCO

22

Phytoplankton

Zooplankton

Higher LevelConsumers

Bacteria

Consumption

Consumption

Deco

mpositi

on

Decomposition

Resp

iratio

n

Respiration

Photosynthesis

• The process continues…The process continues…

Higher Trophic LevelsHigher Trophic Levels

COCO

22

COCO

22

COCO

22

Phytoplankton

Zooplankton

Higher LevelConsumers

Bacteria

Consumption

Consumption

Deco

mpositi

on

Decomposition

Resp

iratio

n

Resp

iratio

n

Respiration

Photosynthesis

NitrogenNitrogen• Critical component of proteins, Critical component of proteins,

chlorophyll and nucleic acidschlorophyll and nucleic acids

• Found in the bodies of organisms in Found in the bodies of organisms in different forms…different forms…

Nitrogen inputNitrogen input• Nitrogen is added to the ocean by;Nitrogen is added to the ocean by;

river runoffriver runoff

precipitationprecipitation

nitrogen-fixing organismsnitrogen-fixing organisms

Useable nitrogenUseable nitrogen• 48% of dissolved gas in seawater is 48% of dissolved gas in seawater is

nitrogennitrogen

• Organisms can not use free nitrogenOrganisms can not use free nitrogen

• Must be bound to oxygen or hydrogenMust be bound to oxygen or hydrogen

• Bacteria Bacteria fix fix nitrogen (make it bigger)nitrogen (make it bigger)

• Plant growth is limited because of the Plant growth is limited because of the limited source of useable nitrogenlimited source of useable nitrogen

Nitrogen and animalsNitrogen and animals

• As dissolved organic ions (waste):As dissolved organic ions (waste):

ammonium NHammonium NH44+ +

nitrite NOnitrite NO22- -

nitrate NOnitrate NO33--

Nitrogen and plantsNitrogen and plants• Small oceanic plants use mostly Small oceanic plants use mostly

nitrate (fertilizer)nitrate (fertilizer)• Fish eat the plants and excrete Fish eat the plants and excrete

ammonia and urea.ammonia and urea.• MulmMulm the technical term for what the technical term for what

comes out of the ventcomes out of the vent• Then bacteria fixes the mulm into Then bacteria fixes the mulm into

useable fertilizer for plants againuseable fertilizer for plants again

In an aquariumIn an aquarium• Ammonia is in fish wasteAmmonia is in fish waste and is also and is also

released through gills when they released through gills when they absorb oxygen (breathe)absorb oxygen (breathe)

• Ammonia can be changed into a Ammonia can be changed into a toxic form called Ammonium toxic form called Ammonium depending on pH levels, depending on pH levels, temperature, and salinitytemperature, and salinity

• High levels of ammonium can kill fishHigh levels of ammonium can kill fish

3 KINDS OF FILTRATION USED 3 KINDS OF FILTRATION USED TO GET RID OF WASTETO GET RID OF WASTE

BIOLOGICALBIOLOGICAL: Bacteria ingest waste and : Bacteria ingest waste and convert it.convert it.

CHEMICALCHEMICAL: O: O33 binds to “junk” in the water binds to “junk” in the water and makes it easier to remove. Carbon and makes it easier to remove. Carbon also removes impurities from the water.also removes impurities from the water.

PHYSICALPHYSICAL: Water flows through : Water flows through mechanical filter plates and the waste mechanical filter plates and the waste gets trapped.gets trapped.

Micron filter and cotton filter

Ozone generator and carbon filter

Nitrifying BacteriaNitrifying Bacteria

• Nitrobacter and nitrosomonasNitrobacter and nitrosomonas (the (the good kind of bacteria)good kind of bacteria)

• Converts ammonia and nitrites into Converts ammonia and nitrites into nitratesnitrates

• DenitrifyingDenitrifying bacteria turns nitrates bacteria turns nitrates back into nitrites and free ammonia back into nitrites and free ammonia

• This keeps the cycle goingThis keeps the cycle going

Nitrosomonas europaea

Where the bacteria livesWhere the bacteria lives

• On any clean, hard surfaceOn any clean, hard surface

• Aerobic Aerobic NEED NEED oxygenoxygen

• Examples:Examples:

gravelgravel

bioballsbioballs

filter platesfilter plates

Problems with AquariumsProblems with Aquariums

• TemperatureTemperature

• Bacteria populationsBacteria populations

• ParasitesParasites

• StressStress

ParasitesParasites

• Worms;Worms;

Nematodes Nematodes (round worms)(round worms)

Trematodes Trematodes (hooks and suckers)(hooks and suckers)

Nematodes found in gut (usually)

Trematodes found in gills or on outside of body.

Little parasites…Little parasites…

• Ciliated ProtozoansCiliated Protozoans;;

Ichthyopthirius multifiliis Ichthyopthirius multifiliis ((ICHICH) ) freshfresh

Cryptocaryon Cryptocaryon ((cryptcrypt) ) saltsalt

ICH and CRYPTICH and CRYPT• Appears as Appears as white spotswhite spots anywhere on a fish anywhere on a fish• Fish will rub against rocks etc. because its Fish will rub against rocks etc. because its

itchyitchy• Very contagiousVery contagious • Spreads rapidlySpreads rapidly• Is always present but will “take over” if a Is always present but will “take over” if a

fish’s fish’s immune system is suppressed by;immune system is suppressed by; stress, sudden change in temp, etc.stress, sudden change in temp, etc.

Ichthyopthirius Ichthyopthirius multifiliis multifiliis (ICH)(ICH)

Cryptocaryon Cryptocaryon (crypt)(crypt)

Treatments (FYI)Treatments (FYI)

• If you are treating Ich use a salt If you are treating Ich use a salt water bathwater bath

• If you are treating crypt use a fresh If you are treating crypt use a fresh water bathwater bath

• If your tank has NO invertebrates you If your tank has NO invertebrates you can use a copper solution (but they can use a copper solution (but they can build a tolerance to this over can build a tolerance to this over time)time)