Category: ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS)

Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.

E 1: Energy Flow (HS), E 3: Designing Energy Transfer (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, Energy, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Carrying Capacity (HS), Life Science, M&E 1: Photosynthesis (HS), M&E 1: Photosynthesis (MS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, W 1: Graphing Waves (MS), W 1: Wave Relationships (HS), W 2: Wave Behavior (MS)

Biomass from microalgae

GwynneL.

Biomass from microalgae: the potential of domestication towards sustainable biofactories SUMMARY: Microalgae could potentially be a renewable source of energy for people. Unfortunately, there are many issues right now with growing enough algae and keeping the process affordable (aka: it’s too expensive to grow and use algae commercially). The article is divided up into several… Continue reading Biomass from microalgae

Chemical Reactions, CR 4: Driving Reactions (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), Life Science, M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), M&E 5: Matter/Energy Cycles (HS), M&E 6: Biogeochemical Cycles (HS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, S&F 1: Cells (MS), S&F 2: Cell Function (MS), Structure and Function

Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics

GwynneL.

Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics driving decomposition of the same leaf litter SUMMARY: This study looked at the rate of decay between litter in lab conditions and natural conditions. They used fallen leaves from dogwood trees, oak trees, maple trees, and maple-oak tree mix. Results showed quite a difference in… Continue reading Field and lab conditions alter microbial enzyme and biomass dynamics

Chemical Reactions, CR 1: Determining Chemical Reactions (MS), CR 4: Driving Reactions (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), HSus 2: Monitoring Human Impact (MS), Human Sustainability, Life Science, M&E 2: Metabolism (MS), M&E 4: Aerobic/Anaerobic Resp. (HS), M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), M&E 5: Matter/Energy Cycles (HS), M&E 6: Biogeochemical Cycles (HS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, S&P 4: Molecule Traits (HS), Structure & Properties of Matter

Impacts of Biogeochemical Redox Processes

GwynneL.

Biogeochemical Redox Processes and their Impact on Contaminant Dynamics SUMMARY: Reduction and oxidation reactions are the drivers behind many biological processes. Energy is both stored and transferred through these reactions. This article talks about the various redox reactions that can occur, both biotically and abiotically, and how that affects both biogeochemical cycles and contaminants. The… Continue reading Impacts of Biogeochemical Redox Processes

Chemical Reactions, CR 2: Energy in Reactions (HS), CR 4: Driving Reactions (HS), E 1: Energy Flow (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, Energy, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), Life Science, M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, S&P 3: Heat & Reactions (MS), Structure & Properties of Matter, W&C 3: Global Warming Causes (MS), Weather and Climate

Environmental impacts on the diversity of methane-cycling microbes and their resultant function

GwynneL.

Environmental impacts on the diversity of methane-cycling microbes and their resultant function SUMMARY: There are two types of microbes that are involved in methane cycling: ones that produce methane (methanogens) and ones that use methane as a source of energy and convert it to carbon dioxide (methanotrophs). This article review looked at all the different… Continue reading Environmental impacts on the diversity of methane-cycling microbes and their resultant function

Chemical Reactions, CR 2: Energy in Reactions (HS), E 1: Energy Flow (HS), Earth Science, Earth's System, Energy, ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), ES 5: Life on Earth (HS), Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems, IR 1: Ecosystem Interactions (MS), IR 3: Ecosystem Stability (HS), Life Science, M&E 3: Food Webs (MS), M&E 4: Biogeochemical Cycles (MS), M&E 5: Matter/Energy Cycles (HS), M&E 6: Biogeochemical Cycles (HS), Matter & Energy in Organisms/Ecosystems, Physical Science, W&C 2: Biomes (MS), W&C 2: Future Climate (HS), Weather and Climate

Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest

GwynneL.

Moss-cyanobacteria associations as biogenic sources of nitrogen in boreal forest ecosystems SUMMARY: Moss, cyanobacteria, and the trees of the boreal forest share a complicated relationship. This article first focuses on the nitrogen cycle, addressing the various sources of nitrogen and the factors (both abiotic and biotic) that affect nitrogen fixation. Turns out, temperature, water availability,… Continue reading Moss-Cyanobacteria relationship in the boreal forest

Earth Science, Earth's System, ES 1: Geochemical Cycles (HS), ES 1: Materials/Energy Flow (MS), ES 4: Carbon Cycling (HS), ES 5: Life on Earth (HS)

Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest Atlantic

GwynneL.

Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest Atlantic SUMMARY: In this experiment, the researchers sampled dead mesopelagic fish from the Northwest Atlantic Mid-Ocean area (between Ireland and Newfoundland). The water and the fish guts were strained for microplastics. Researchers found that 73% of the fish had microplastics in their stomach. Most of the… Continue reading Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest Atlantic