Biogeochemical Cycles of Race Rocks
					BACKGROUND: From the file Structure and Function of Ecosystems, we come now to that component which represents part of the Functional Aspects, the Material or Biogeochemical Cycles. In this file we will refer you to some of the cycles which are operating in ecosystems, but there are others of course, wherever minerals or ions that become part of the nutrients for plants are taken up by the plants and thus passed on through the other trophic levels or levels of nourishment. Normally, most texts and many websites have diagrams of the cycles. ( just Google the cycle name) The approach of presenting a completed diagram is rather boring, as it is more interesting to just look around yourself in the ecosystem in which you are living and using other diagrams as models you will easily be able to build up the cycle using local examples yourself. OBJECTIVES: After doing this assignment students will be able to: a) Construct digital image biogeochemical cycles using images of local examples. b) Explain how biogeochemical cycles are impacted by anthropogenic activities. c) Discuss your own responsibilities in terms of biogeochemical cycles. d) Evaluate how you can help in dealing with the problem of sustainability of Materials cycles.
	PROCEDURE: 1. To get you started, thumb-print sized photographs taken from Race Rocks have been grouped in no particular order under each of the cycle headings below. They are linked to the location of a larger version of the image on the website. Using help from any other resources portraying cycles, drag and drop the photograph to a desktop folder and then transfer the image or the part of the image to make a montage in a new blank image of a photo editing software, such as Graphics converter or Photoshop. 2. Make your pictures in the "cycle" represent the flow of the material in question. Add arrows and words of explanation as needed. 3. Note some of the pictures are also hyperlinked to where they appear on the website, so this gives you a way of connecting with other resources of racerocks.com 4. As an added resource, you may be able to go on line and capture images directly from the cameras to help illustrate your diagram. 5. Present two of the image diagrams for your lab report. 6. Now that you have prepared a model of a material cycle from this resource of images, design a third cycle from images or materials for which you find direct evidence in your own environment. 7. It is suggested that each class should choose a representative example of a cycle and submit it as an entry for a sighting report. 8.Extension material: Included below are several links to outside sources about the anthropogenic effects on biogeochemical cycles. You may find additional such links by using the word anthropogenic in a Google Image Search 9. Extension material: Sustainable Materials Cycles: http://www.conservationeconomy.net/sustainable_materials_cycles.htm This reference gives an opportunity to investigate ideas about how humans can be involved responsibly in sustainable cycles. It deals with the issue that human activities are seriously affecting the materials cycles of the earth. What are examples of this and how can you personally do something about this?
Carbon Cycle Cup coral Mussel shells made of Calcium Carbonate. External link: Anthropogenic Carbon Dead kelp drift on the shore. Photosynthesis in a tide pool Live bull kelp External link: Anthropogenic Methane Dead sea leaten by eagles and gulls. Plankton Native grasses Smoke stacks (pulp mill) across the Strait in Port Angeles
Nitrogen Cycle External Link: Anthropogenic Nitrous Beach pea--Legume Elephant seal soil-- urine. Elephant seal feces Fish bones
			Phos- phorous Cycle Goose droppings Vegetation External link: Anthropogenic Phosphorous Lichen on rock Fish bone Cabezon Bird bone
Calcium Cycle Oystercatcher nest and shells Concrete. Bird Skeleton Living coraline algae chiton with calcareous shell plates Dead coraline algae
	...Water... ...Cycle... Atmosphere-Clouds Tidepool Solar energy Frost on window Oystercatcher bathing
		Sulphur Cycle See this S cycle reference: Smoke stacks (pulp mill) across the Strait in Port Angeles External Link: Anthropogenic Sulphur Sea urchin graze marks on kelp stype. Kelp contains Sulphur. Sea urchin test (shell).. eaten by sea gull Mt. Baker is an active volcano PhytoPlankton Clouds
	An assignment on Anthropogenic Impacts at Race Rocks is included in this file Return to Index of the OceanQuest Assignments.
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