Climate change affects biogeochemical cycles.
A biogeochemical cycle is a set of processes carried out with the intervention of living beings and abiotic factors that makes the circulation of energy through the biosphere possible. These cyclical journeys allow the transformation and transfer of elements that are essential for life to exist.
It is important to indicate that the term biogeochemistry is not part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). The notion of geochemistry does appear, linked to the chemical compounds found in the crust of planet Earth.
The idea of biogeochemistry , therefore, refers to the interactions that living organisms establish with geochemical compounds . As for cycle , the concept refers to events that are repeated in an orderly manner; to the stages of a periodic phenomenon; or to the transformations that something goes through until it returns to the first state.
Importance of biogeochemical cycles
The importance of biogeochemical cycles is enormous: in fact, without these cycles life would not exist on our planet . What these cyclic procedures do is make possible the use and recycling of resources that, due to their availability, are limited.
Each biogeochemical cycle means that organic matter can be recycled . Without this recovery and reuse, nutrients would end up being depleted, thus life would come to an end.
Biogeochemical cycles can be carried out thanks to the sun's energy , which flows through ecosystems. Beyond this natural development, it cannot be overstated that humans interfere with biogeochemical cycles with activities that cause deforestation , greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in general.
The nutrients
Nutrients are the molecules or chemical elements that an organism needs to live. These nutrients increase body substance and repair what is lost through catabolism.
Each species can require up to forty chemical elements to survive. They can be macronutrients (which provide the majority of metabolic energy) or micronutrients (needed in small amounts).
Oxygen, nitrogen , carbon , hydrogen , calcium , potassium , magnesium , sulfur , and phosphorus are macronutrients; copper , iron , iodine , chlorine and zinc , meanwhile, are among the micronutrients.
These elements are generally not found in forms that organisms can achieve absorption . This makes biogeochemical cycles that promote recycling and transformation essential. When the different biological, geological and chemical processes are combined, nutrients can be used by living beings .
It is interesting to mention that, with biogeochemical cycles, a chemical substance can be found in the environment in one phase and then become part of an organism and vice versa. What biogeochemical cycles provide, in short, is that a chemical compound can be used repeatedly and successively by organisms.
The bacteria and fungi that are responsible for the decomposition of organic matter intervene in different biogeochemical cycles.
Energy in biogeochemical cycles
Energy in biogeochemical cycles circulates thanks to the food chain . Depending on the position it occupies in the food pyramid, one living being feeds on another and, in turn, is ingested by another, causing energy to flow.
In this framework, solar energy is used by plants that carry out photosynthesis . With this resource they proceed to produce the carbohydrates they need, while the rest of the energy is converted into biomass . The energy stored by plants passes to another trophic level when herbivores feed. Then, with the intervention of carnivores, circulation continues, as well as when decomposers act once the animals die.
The case of water
The water cycle is a biogeochemical cycle, although there are few chemical reactions in its development. Processes such as evaporation , sublimation , condensation, precipitation, infiltration , runoff, underground circulation, solidification and fusion occur.
It must be considered that water can appear in a gaseous state, as a liquid or as a solid. The liquid water from the oceans and rivers is evaporated by the sun's rays, forming clouds, from which the precipitation of water takes shape and then infiltrates the earth.
This hydrological cycle consists of an internal and an external development. Although there are changes in state, the amount of water is always the same throughout the cycle.
The development of biogeochemical cycles is associated with environmental conservation.
Other biogeochemical cycles
Other biogeochemical cycles exist, such as the oxygen cycle , nitrogen cycle , carbon cycle , calcium cycle , phosphorus cycle , sulfur cycle , potassium cycle , magnesium cycle , and silicon cycle. .
If we focus on the oxygen cycle , humans and animals take in oxygen (O2) from the air when inhaling and expel carbon dioxide (CO2) when exhaling. Plants, meanwhile, absorb that carbon dioxide and transform it into oxygen.
In the nitrogen cycle , on the other hand, processes such as nitrification , ammonification, fixation and denitrification are carried out, while the carbon cycle involves the circulation of this element through the biosphere, the atmosphere , the oceans and the mantle. and the earth's crust.