What does "Cycles of Matter" mean?

"Cycle of Matter?" What's that?

Before explaining the cycle of matter through our rainforest, we must clarify what, exactly, a "cycle of matter" is.

Matter, you see, cycles through an ecosystem much like water does. And when you learn a water cycle, maybe your teacher told you that it's like following a single drop of water to see where it goes. Well that's EXACTLY what cycles of matter are too, except it's not about water. Some cycles of matter could be about phosphorous, nitrogen, or carbon. Now that we understand, let's see an example of a carbon cycle through the rainforest.

As will be explained, this cycle affects many, many aspects of a biome.

It's important because of the use it has to each of the places/things it helps to survive.

Over here, we'll follow a molecule of carbon and explain where he's going.

We'll start by following our carbon molecule from the atmosphere. He stays in the atmosphere a day or so before getting used up by a little red mushroom.

The mushroom uses carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. He hangs out for a day or so, but this little mushroom doesn't last long. Soon enough, the little red mushroom dies and becomes just another dead plant on the rainforest floor.

Being a carbon molecule in a dead plant isn't fun, but after quite some time, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere after months of being buried on the rainforest floor.

Life for this little carbon starts speeding up. In only hours, he is taken in by a butterfly's spiracles. Unfortunately, this little carbon is taken in by an animal that unfortunately has no real use for him. In less than a minute of respiration, he's released back into the atmosphere where his cycle may begin again.

Over here, we'll explain the diagram and what is happening with each of the arrows.

In our diagram, the arrows are color-labled, but the diagram has no key, because it is explained here.

When you look at the diagram, you can see two (2) bright green arrows that are pointing to a mushroom and to a tree. This green arrow represents that carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) is taken in by plants.

Then you may notice one little blue arrow coming from the mushroom to a graveyard of dead plants. This represents when a plant (or animal, to be fair) has died. When a plant dies, the carbon in it doesn't all rush out at once. In fact, if it's in the form of carbon-14, it has a half-life of 5,730 years!

Last, you'll notice two (2) pink arrows. This represents the release of carbon. In one piece, it is released from a decaying plant, and in another, it is released through animal respiration.

One misconception that some people may have when leaning about the cycle of matter is to believe that it is similar to (or the exact same thing as) energy flow.

As you will/have read, there are many differences between energy flow and cycles of matter in an ecosystem. The big thing is that energy flow depends on an outside source: the sun. When something has an outside source, it is not a continuous cycle.

What is a "Cycle of Matter?"