GCSE Biology Revision — Cycles in Ecosystems
Revise Cycles in Ecosystems for GCSE Biology with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Cycles in Ecosystems?
Materials in the natural world are constantly recycled. The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth, involving evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is recycled through the living and non-living world, involving photosynthesis, respiration, and combustion.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The roles of photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, and decomposition in the carbon cycle are key.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A tree takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis, incorporating the carbon into its tissues. An animal eats the tree's leaves and obtains the carbon. The animal respires, releasing some carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2. When the animal dies, decomposers break down its body, releasing the rest of the carbon through their own respiration.
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Common mistakes
- 1Forgetting the role of decomposers. Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) are essential for breaking down dead organic matter and waste products, returning mineral ions to the soil and carbon to the atmosphere through respiration.
- 2Confusing the processes in the carbon cycle. Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere, while respiration (by plants, animals, and decomposers) and combustion of fossil fuels release CO2 into the atmosphere.
- 3Thinking that water is created and destroyed. The amount of water on Earth is finite; the water cycle simply moves it around between oceans, the atmosphere, and land.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous journey water takes. It evaporates from the surface (e.g., oceans), rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into clouds, and then falls back to the surface as precipitation (rain, snow, etc.).
How do humans affect the carbon cycle?
Humans are significantly impacting the carbon cycle, primarily by burning fossil fuels and through deforestation. These activities release large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming.