46
2 Basic Ecology
hold genetic information in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (Kümmerer 2004). Also, phosphates are a pertinent component of
adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which organisms use as energy. Similar to calcium,
phosphorus is beneficial for vertebrates, and 80% of it is found within the bones and
teeth.
The major difference between the phosphorus cycle and other cycles is that it
lacks a gas phase. However, it is worth noting that small phosphoric acid quantities
can enter the atmosphere to produce acid rain. Sedimentary rock is the major
reservoir of phosphorus, where the cycle starts. During precipitation, the process
of weathering removes phosphates from rocks and distributes them throughout the
water and soil. Plants absorb phosphate ions from the soil, and they move to animals
when herbivores consume plants or when carnivores eat herbivores or plants.
Phosphates absorbed via consumption ultimately come back to the soil through
feces and urine excretion. The above process also happens in the aquatic ecosystem
(Kümmerer 2004). Since phosphorus is less soluble, it mainly reaches waters
through runoff. Phosphates also get into the water streams through fertilizer runoff,
natural deposition of minerals, and other industrial process wastes. Phosphates
have a tendency of settling on the bottom of lakes and ocean floors. Phosphorus
benefits many biological processes, but a high concentration of it is perceived as
a pollutant. Phosphates often promote the growth of plants and excessive growth
consume large quantities of dissolved oxygen, thus leading to suffocation of marine
animals and fish. It also blocks the available sunlight from reaching bottomdwelling species; an aspect called eutrophication. Human beings may also affect
the phosphorus cycle in numerous ways, including deforestation and the application
of agricultural fertilizers. The recycling of nutrients supports rainforest ecosystems,
while agricultural runoff increases the proportion of phosphates in waterways.
2.4 Individual Matter: James Hansen
James Hansen is a respected American professor, who currently lectures at
Columbia University in the Earth and Environmental Sciences’ department (see
Fig. 2.10). His fame is attributed to him being called the “father of global warming”
due to his early warnings about global warming.
He was born in 1941 in Iowa. He drew his inspiration from Red Giants and
White Dwarfs, authored by Jastrow (1990), during his high school years, which
inspired him to venture into a scientific career. Hansen was trained in physics
and astronomy from the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in Mathematics and Physics with distinction in 1963. Hansen further earned
his master’s degree in 1965 and a Ph.D. degree in Physics from the University of
Iowa. He participated in the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
graduate traineeship program and attended Tokyo University (Llavador et al. 2015).
His first job was on radiative transfer models to get acquainted with the Venusian
atmosphere. He later used the knowledge obtained while in school to understand
2 Basic Ecology
hold genetic information in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (Kümmerer 2004). Also, phosphates are a pertinent component of
adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which organisms use as energy. Similar to calcium,
phosphorus is beneficial for vertebrates, and 80% of it is found within the bones and
teeth.
The major difference between the phosphorus cycle and other cycles is that it
lacks a gas phase. However, it is worth noting that small phosphoric acid quantities
can enter the atmosphere to produce acid rain. Sedimentary rock is the major
reservoir of phosphorus, where the cycle starts. During precipitation, the process
of weathering removes phosphates from rocks and distributes them throughout the
water and soil. Plants absorb phosphate ions from the soil, and they move to animals
when herbivores consume plants or when carnivores eat herbivores or plants.
Phosphates absorbed via consumption ultimately come back to the soil through
feces and urine excretion. The above process also happens in the aquatic ecosystem
(Kümmerer 2004). Since phosphorus is less soluble, it mainly reaches waters
through runoff. Phosphates also get into the water streams through fertilizer runoff,
natural deposition of minerals, and other industrial process wastes. Phosphates
have a tendency of settling on the bottom of lakes and ocean floors. Phosphorus
benefits many biological processes, but a high concentration of it is perceived as
a pollutant. Phosphates often promote the growth of plants and excessive growth
consume large quantities of dissolved oxygen, thus leading to suffocation of marine
animals and fish. It also blocks the available sunlight from reaching bottomdwelling species; an aspect called eutrophication. Human beings may also affect
the phosphorus cycle in numerous ways, including deforestation and the application
of agricultural fertilizers. The recycling of nutrients supports rainforest ecosystems,
while agricultural runoff increases the proportion of phosphates in waterways.
2.4 Individual Matter: James Hansen
James Hansen is a respected American professor, who currently lectures at
Columbia University in the Earth and Environmental Sciences’ department (see
Fig. 2.10). His fame is attributed to him being called the “father of global warming”
due to his early warnings about global warming.
He was born in 1941 in Iowa. He drew his inspiration from Red Giants and
White Dwarfs, authored by Jastrow (1990), during his high school years, which
inspired him to venture into a scientific career. Hansen was trained in physics
and astronomy from the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in Mathematics and Physics with distinction in 1963. Hansen further earned
his master’s degree in 1965 and a Ph.D. degree in Physics from the University of
Iowa. He participated in the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)
graduate traineeship program and attended Tokyo University (Llavador et al. 2015).
His first job was on radiative transfer models to get acquainted with the Venusian
atmosphere. He later used the knowledge obtained while in school to understand