The biogeochemical cycling of elements such as phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, carbon and oxygen is intimately connected to the evolution of life on earth. This session aims to bring together researchers studying the coupling between these elemental cycles, including the role of biological processes (bacteria, macrofauna) and the response to perturbation for both modern and ancient earth environments. Examples of topics include - but are not limited to - the effects of expanding hypoxia on elemental cycling in coastal systems and the open ocean, the evolution of elemental cycling over earth’s history, the consequences of ocean acidification for the ocean carbon cycle, and the role of bacteria and macrofauna for mineral formation, recycling of nutrients and organic carbon preservation in sediments.