Cycles of Matter

Terms	Definitions
water cycle	the continuous process by which water moves from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back
evaporation	the process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas; in the water cycle this comes from lakes or oceans
condensation	The process by which gas changes into a liquid
Precipitation	the heavy drops in the clouds that come down as rain, snow, sleet or hail
carbon and oxygen cycles	Producers, consumers and decomposers all play a role in recycling these two substances.
nitrogen cycle	nitrogen moves from the air to the soil, into living things, and back into the air
legumes	These plants have a mutual relationship with bacteria to perform nitrogen fixation
nitrogen fixation	the process of changing free nitrogen gas into a usable form of nitrogen
decomposers	help return the simple nitrogen compounds to the ground.
nodules	the bumps on the root of certain plants where bacteria performs nitrogen fixation
recycles	matter cycles through an ecosystem over and over
suns heat	causes the water to turn from liquid to vapor
nitrogen gas	78% of earths atmosphere
decomposers	dead animals and grass that release nitrogen into the soil
plants and roots	take up nitrogen from soil
photosynthesis	the process in which organisms use water along with sunlight and carbon dioxide to make their own food
Producer in the carbon cycle	Producers take in carbon dioxide gas from the air and use it to make food such as sugar
consumers in the carbon cycle	consumers eat producers to obtain energy and then release carbon dioxide into the air
Plants in the oxygen cycle	produce or make oxygen
cows in the oxygen cycle	animals take in or use oxygen
decomposers in the carbon cycle	breakdown remains of dead plants or animals to the soil and release carbon dioxide to the air