fast and slow cycles
The above phrase is an acronym used by folks to easily recall the vital atomic elements needed to understand the dynamic qualities of biogeochemical cycles.
Atomic means pertaining to the 110 or so elements on the periodic table arranged according to their masses and their requisite numbers of protons and neutrons.
Elements refers to any basic building block that accounts for the function or the underlying cause of things.
Dynamic refers to changes that occur over time and the cycles refer to the recurrent patterns in these alterations of material from one condition to another in the course of a measurable duration.
C H O P K I N S C A F E
Types of materials cycled on the earth:
Compounds:
H for hydrogen: abundant, gas
O for oxygen: faster cycling, gas
C for carbon: variable as fast or slow cycling, gas / solid / liquid
P for phosphorus: slow cycling, solid
S for sulfur: slow cycling, solid
K for potassium: slower cycling, solid
Ca for calcium: slowest cycling, solid
C for carbon: variable cycling , solid
/ liquid / gas
Limestone –pictured here–is a compound of calcium and carbon.
Mg for magnesium slowest cycling, Mineral
Me for mercury variable cycling, Mineral
Nutrients come in two quantities:
1. Major trace elements are: calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, carbon, oxygen, sodium and nitrogen
2. Minor trace elements are: copper, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, boron, zinc, iodine, and iron.
Nutrients come in two qualities:
Fast cycling and readily available; oxygen, sodium and nitrogen, sulfur,
Slow cycling and scarcely available; calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, boron, zinc, iodine, and iron.
Variable rate of cycling: carbon.
Biogeochemical cycles account for the characteristics, robustness and resilience of ecosystems to withstand stress, rapid change, or population explosions. Justus Leibeg over 150 years ago defined a "law of the Minimum," by which he understood that the material element, or nutrient, needed in only trace amounts -- but necessary to the viability of production is the most serious limiting factor.
For example, plants cannot photosynthesize without magnesium in the chloroplasts. Magnesium is not needed in large amounts but is a serious limiting factor and an example of the law of the minimum. This is particularly true in tropical climates.
