Notes on Biogeochemical Cycles and Ecology.pdf
Notes on Biogeochemical Cycles and Ecology.pdf
Notes on Biogeochemical Cycles and Ecology.pdf
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phosphate is then used as fertilizer. This mining of phosphate <strong>and</strong> use of the phosphateas fertilizer greatly accelerates the phosphorous cycle <strong>and</strong> may cause localoverabundance of phosphorous, particularly in coastal regi<strong>on</strong>s, at the mouths of rivers,<strong>and</strong> anyplace where there is a lot of sewage released into the water (the phosphateplaced <strong>on</strong> crops finds its way into our stomachs <strong>and</strong> from there to our toilets). Localabundance of phosphate can cause overgrowth of algae in the water; the algae can useup all the oxygen in the water <strong>and</strong> kill other aquatic life. This is called eutrophicati<strong>on</strong>.The other animals that play a unique role in the phosphorous cycle are marine birds.These birds take phosphorous c<strong>on</strong>taining fish out of the ocean <strong>and</strong> return to l<strong>and</strong>,where they defecate. Their guano c<strong>on</strong>tains high levels of phosphorous <strong>and</strong> in this waymarine birds return phosphorous from the ocean to the l<strong>and</strong>. The guano is often mined<strong>and</strong> may form the basis of the ec<strong>on</strong>omy in some areas.Return to Top of DocumentOverviewRoles of OrganismsEnergy Flow Through EcosystemsFood Chains <strong>and</strong> Webs - Pyramids - Biological Magnificati<strong>on</strong>Human vs. Natural Food ChainsBioGeoChemical <strong>Cycles</strong> - The Water Cycle - Carb<strong>on</strong> Cycle - Oxygen Cycle - Nitrogen Cycle -Phosphorous CycleEnvir<strong>on</strong>mental Biology Top PageAbout SequencesAbout EcosystemsReturn to Biology Home PageReturn to McShaffrey Home Page