What is the circulation of substances? The cycle of substances in the ecosystem. Scheme of the circulation of substances in nature

From the very beginning of our planetVarious processes of energy transfer between living organisms and the environment are constantly taking place. It is transformed, transforms into other forms, binds and dissipates again. The same can be said about any substance that forms the basis of life. Each of them passes through many instances, undergoes multiple changes and eventually returns.

These processes give an idea of ​​whatcirculation of substances in nature. They allow us to trace the movement of not only compounds, but also individual elements. We will try to understand this issue in more detail.

The general concept of the cycling of substances

What is the circulation of substances?These are cyclic transitions from one form to another, accompanied by partial loss or dispersion, but having a permanent, stable character. That is, any substance or element makes a series of transitions in steps, while transforming and changing, but in the end all the same returns to its original form.

Naturally, over time there may be partial losses in the amount of the compound or element under consideration. However, the overall pattern is constant and has been preserved for many millennia.

Что такое круговорот веществ, можно рассмотреть For example. The simplest of them is the conversion of organic substances. Initially, they consist of all multicellular living beings. Upon completion of their life cycle, their bodies are decomposed by special organisms, and organic compounds are converted to inorganic. After these compounds are absorbed by other creatures and inside their bodies they are restored to organic form again. Further process repeats and cyclically proceeds all the time.

The scheme of the circulation of substances in nature makes it clearthat nothing arises from nowhere and disappears into nowhere. Everything has its beginning, end, and transitional forms. These are the basic rules of life. Energy obeys them. Consider the examples of transformations that occur in ecosystems, living beings. And also we will understand what the circulation of substances is, based on one specific element.

Living matter in nature

The most important substance of the biosphere is living.What it is? This is every representative of nature. Together, they form biomass. Naturally, it undergoes changes, is a participant in all processes occurring in the environment.

The circulation of living matter can be illustrated by an example of the following kind.

1. First creatures that directlycapture the energy of sunlight and convert it into the energy of chemical bonds - these are plants, blue-green bacteria. This happens due to the chlorophyll pigment in the process of photosynthesis. The result is the synthesis of organic matter from inorganic components. Thus was formed the first link among the living matter of the biosphere.
2. Next are the animals that are capableeat plants directly. As well as omnivores, which include humans as well. They consume the first link and transform the organic matter inside into another form - inorganic.
3. Herbivorous creatures are eaten by carnivores. So substances are already moving into other organisms.
4. Next come those organisms that are able to eat carnivorous forms. Higher predators. They are the final link in the circulation of organic matter. After their extinction, the following organisms come into play.
5. Detritophages - microorganisms, fungi, protozoa, which decompose the dead remains of living beings and translate all substances into inorganic form.
6. These compounds (carbon dioxide, water, mineral salts) are used again by plants in the process of creating organic compounds.

Таким образом, приведенная схема круговорота substances in nature reflects the transformation of the living component of the biosphere. It all starts with plants and ends with them. A complete cyclical process that has a lot of branches and complex curls.

The cycle of substances in the ecosystem

Any ecosystem is a whole community of various organisms, interconnected by complex relationships in the food plan, as well as under the influence of similar environmental conditions.

The cycle of substances in the ecosystem obeyscertain environmental laws. So, strictly strict subordination of the power circuits. The exchange of energy, substances, the circulation of many elements - all this happens between individuals within a given ecological group.

Moreover, they are all divided into several groups:

• producers;
• first order consumers;
• second order consumers;
• third order consumers;
• omnivorous organisms;
• decomposers or detritofagi.

The scheme of circulation of substances may look like this:

• the plant (producer) produces organic matter;
• a herbivorous animal (first order consumer) converts it to inorganic and other organic matter;
• a carnivore (second order consumer) converts to another organic matter;
• the highest predator (consumer of the third order) again partially disperses it as heat, and partially concentrates in the form of internal organic substances;
• microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and others (decomposers or detritofagi), decompose the dead remains of animals and form a mass of inorganic compounds;
• plants absorb the inorganic and in the process of photosynthesis reabsorb a number of important organic compounds, i.e. produce.

Ecosystem substances

It is obvious that in one ecosystem two main types of matter are in close interaction: organic and inorganic. From organics it is:

• proteins;
• fats;
• carbohydrates.

Inorganic compounds are as follows:

• water;
• carbon dioxide;
• mineral salts;
• a number of important macronutrients.

A very important condition for normalfunctioning of any ecosystem is a constant influx of solar energy. After all, plants can carry out photosynthesis only under this condition. In addition, the energy that is in the chemical bonds of compounds is dissipated in the form of heat in sufficiently large quantities. Therefore, substances can not circulate in a constant state without loss.

Scheme of circulation of substances in the meadow

The meadow is a special natural community. After all, it has some differences from all others, for example from the forest one. What are these differences?

1. На лугу преобладает только травяная vegetation consisting of perennial and annual low grasses. At the same time, they differ from each other. More light-loving have high growth, and those that can live in the shade, low.
2. Within this community there are no major representatives of the animal world. This is due to the fact that they simply have nowhere to hide, because there are no trees.
3. Periodically, during heavy rains all the meadows are flooded with water. From here and their other name - jellied or bulk. In such conditions, not all living things can exist.

Если же говорить о сходствах лугового и лесного, for example, communities, the main line should be highlighted: representatives of plants, insects, rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals live in both territories.

The scheme of circulation of substances in the meadow may have the following form:

• mineral substances and water that the plant consumes directly from the earth;
• insects that pollinate flowers and allow them to multiply, while feeding on nectar, that is, the organic matter produced by the plant;
• birds and mammals that eat insects and plants, that is, who consume organic matter;
• microorganisms that decompose dead remains of plants and animals and release inorganic substances (mineral salts, water, carbon dioxide).

Example of a meadow cycle

All links indicated inan example. The circulation of substances in the meadow is a necessary condition for the existence of this community. The soil is able to be enriched with useful substances and elements only thanks to the activities of its inhabitants - detritophage microorganisms, worms, wood lice and other creatures. Without this condition, the plants will lack inorganics for photosynthesis and growth, which means that the organic matter they produce will also be in short supply. Such as starch, cellulose, protein and others. This will lead to a reduction in the number of animals and birds, and hence the organic matter in general. In the end, detritofagi will suffer, so the cycle will break.

The cycle of substances in the meadow can be illustrated by a more specific example. Let's try to make such a scheme.

• Mineral salts, water, carbon dioxide, oxygen consumes chamomile.
• A honeybee pollinates the designated plant and eats its pollen, that is, carbohydrates and proteins.
• The bee-eater and the bream eat up the honeybee and consume the organic matter of its body (chitin, protein, carbohydrates).
• The meadow vole and other small rodents and larger species eat the organic component of plants and insects.
• Kestrel (bird) eats rodents and consumes nutrients.
• After death, all animals and insects fall to the ground, where their body is decomposed into components of the compound by the activity of microorganisms, worms, wood lice and other detritophages.
• As a result, the soil is again saturated with inorganic salts, water and other compounds that absorb plant roots.

Chains and mains

The cycle of matter and energy, as has becomeunderstandably, closely associated with such environmental concept as a chain or power network. After all, any substance is a material, a product that serves as a building material for the formation of structural parts of cells, tissues and organs.

Each food chain inevitably entails andcyclic transformations of substances. And any processes of synthesis and decay require cost or release of energy. Therefore, it is also involved in a single circulation in nature.

Why are the concepts of "chain" and "power network"?The fact is that the relationship between organisms within one ecological group is often much more complicated than just an ordinary ordinary chain. After all, the same representative of the animal world can be both a herbivore and a predator. There are omnivores. In addition, for many a competitive environment is created for the extraction and livelihood, which also leaves its mark on the overall plan of relationships within the biogeocenosis.

Here in these cases the chains are closely intertwined betweenthemselves and formed the so-called power network. This is especially noticeable in places populated by inhabitants: forest, lake communities, tropical forests and others.

All food chains can be divided into two types:

• grazing, or grazing;
• decomposition, or detrital.

The main difference between them is that in the firstcase, it all starts with a living organism - a plant. In the second - from the dead residues, excreta and other sediments that are processed by microorganisms, worms, and so on.

Energy changes

Energy, like substances, undergoes a series of changes in the course of processes in ecosystems. All of it is divided into two main types:

• sunshine;
• chemical bonds.

In the course of building power circuits, energy is justmoves from one form to another. In this case, there are partial losses. After all, it is spent on the vital processes of each creature, dissipated in the form of heat. That is why it is important that solar energy, as a source, constantly replenishes the reserves of any community.

Directly in the form of light from the Sun it can be consumed only by such organisms as:

• plants;
• bacteria;
• photosynthesizing unicellular.

After them all the energy goes into the following form - chemical bonds of the compounds. In this form, it is consumed by heterotrophic representatives of the biosphere.

The water cycle

We have already identified that the most important and historicallyThe established life process is the circulation of substances in nature. Water is the inorganic compound, the value of which is particularly important and large-scale. Therefore, the way its circulation takes place will be considered in general terms.

1. Огромное количество воды сосредоточено на the surface of our planet in reservoirs of all kinds. These are seas and oceans, swamps, rivers, lakes, streams, artificial structures. From their surface, constant evaporation of moisture occurs, that is, water in the form of steam passes into the layers of the atmosphere.
2. The soil, both its external and internal part,also contains a lot of moisture. This is groundwater or groundwater. From the surface, the vapor enters the atmosphere, from the inner layers flows into the reservoirs, and from there evaporates.
3. Condensing in the atmosphere, the water gradually reaches its maximum and begins to return to the earth as precipitation. In winter it is snow, in summer it rains.
4. Plants take an active part in the absorption and transpiration of water, as they carry a huge amount of it through themselves.

Thus, the water cycle and the circulation of substances in nature provide the normal state of any ecosystem, and hence organisms.

The study of the circulation of substances in primary school

So that children have an idea of ​​whatcyclical changes occur in nature, telling them about this should be from the initial stages of learning. Guys should have knowledge of what the circulation of substances. Grade 3 - quite suitable for this time. During this period, children are old enough to fully understand and assimilate information of this kind.

In many educational programs onthe world is presented with a good scheme "Circulation of substances. Grade 3". It reflects the main types of water transformations, substances, food chains, which are characteristic of each ecosystem.

Approximate scheme of the circulation of substances for youngerschoolchildren may have the form: water and minerals in plants - organic matter in animals - water and mineral salts after the death of plants and animals.

Each stage should be explained with examples and detailed description in order to form a clear picture of the natural processes taking place.