Living beings and biogeochemical cycles, activated by solar radiation, keep a close dependency relationship that marks the ecosystem balance of life and our planet. They have a cyclic or closed movement because they circulate and recycle, unlike the flow of energy in the ecosystems that is open.
Knowing these and other characteristics of biogeochemical cycles helps to understand the dynamics of ecosystems and how human activities are able to alter them. If you want to learn more about What are biogeochemical cycles, their types and importancekeep reading this Ecology Verde article, where you can also consult some examples of biogeochemical cycles.
What are biogeochemical cycles
The biogeochemical cycles or bgq cycles They are processes that guarantee the recycled constant, at greater or lesser speed, of those elements that are strictly necessary for life and our survival (nutrients), by conversioning the organic state of the mineral and vice versa.
In these Nature cyclesmacronutrients and micronutrients that constitute the inorganic matter present in our environment (air, water or soil), are incorporated into organisms as organic matter, through metabolic processes and then return to the natural environment, in their inorganic form.
Macronutrients (C, H, O, N, P, S) constitute more than 95% of the biomass of the set of living beings and are those elements that our body requires in large quantities for its development, maintenance and reproduction.
Although they are also essential, unlike macronutrients, Micronutrients They have a lower presence in the body. Some examples of biogeochemical cycles in micronutrients are: iron (faith), copper (cu), zinc (zn), chlorine (cl) and iodine (i).
Types of biogeochemical cycles
The classification of biogeochemical cycles It can be established according to their complexity and mobility.
Attending to the BGQ cycles complexitythese can be:
- Simple cycles: where the elements are more influenced by the physical-chemical forces than by biological ones. Eg
- Intermediate cycles: constituted by elements of organic matter (MO) that can be easily released (c, h, o, p).
- Complex cycles: associated with elements of the MO that require specialized microorganisms in their complex transformations (N and S).
In function of your mobilitywe can distinguish:
- Global Cycles: They are those that have gas phases, which allows their distribution at a global scale.
- Local cycles: They are less mobile cycles, more sedimentary, which end up being transported by water, accumulating in sediments, which gives rise to a more regional or local distribution (p, k, ca).
There are also three Types of biogeochemical cycles Interconnected:
- Gaseous: Macro and micronutrients are quickly recycled and circulate between the atmosphere and living beings. The oxygen, carbon and nitrogen cycle stand out.
- Sedimentary: The elements (for example, phosphorus and sulfur) circulate between the earth’s cortex, the hydrosphere and the organisms and are recycled at a slower pace than those of the gaseous cycle.
- Hydrological or water cycle. In this other post you can learn about what the water cycle is.
Carbon cycle
He Carbon cycle It is essential because it forms organic matter and represents the exchanges between organisms and the environment, as a consequence of breathing processes and photosynthesis.
In general, Carbon is quickly recycledalthough it can remain in forms not available for long periods. In warm and humid ecosystems (tropical jungle), production and decomposition rates are high, and the C (carbon) circulates rapidly through the ecosystem. On the contrary, in cold and dry ecosystems the process is slower.
Learn more about what the carbon cycle is, how it works and its importance with this other article.
Sulfur cycle
This element has sedimentary and soda phases.
- On the one hand, in the sedimentary, the sulfur that is immobilized in organic and inorganic deposits is released by wear and decomposition processes until it is transported to the terrestrial ecosystems in the form of saline solution.
- On the other hand, the gas phase of the sulfur biogeochemical cycle It allows its global circulation.
Phosphorus cycle
He phosphorus biogeochemical cycle It does not present a significant atmospheric reservoir, since it is found in mineral deposits and in marine sediments, in not available forms.
It is released to terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems due to rock erosion and mining extraction, mainly.
Importance of biogeochemical cycles
The Importance of biogeochemical cycles It is given by the benefits they report and its characteristics:
- First, these cycles They allow life on earthmaintaining optimal conditions. This means that biogeochemical cycles regulate the weather, the distribution of nutrients …
- They also make possible the Matter exchanges between living beings and the natural environment and access to the vital elements (nutrients) we need.
In this other article you can read more about the characteristics of planet Earth that make life possible.
What human activities have modified biogeochemical cycles
They are shown below Examples of biogeochemical cycles altered by human activities:
- Deforestation alters the water cycle leading to the desertification of ecosystems.
- Wastewater discharges, intensive agriculture and use of fertilizers (eutrophication) modify the nitrogen and sulfur cycle favoring acid rain.
- Large -scale fishing activities alter the bacterioplankton, being able to modify the cycles of C, N, O and P, of which it is responsible for regular.
- Industrial activities and burning fossil fuels modify among others (such as the s) the carbon cycle, causing global warming.
If you want to read more articles similar to Biogeochemical cycles: what are, types and importancewe recommend that you enter our biology category.
