Describe the cycling of carbon in the carbon cycle as it passes through the living and non-living components of the ecosystem.(4 points)
1) The carbon cycle begins with carbon dioxide being absorbed from the atmosphere by plants through the process of photosynthesis. Plants convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds, such as glucose, which are used for growth and energy production.
2) Animals consume plants or other animals, thereby obtaining the organic carbon compounds that were originally created by plants. Through cellular respiration, animals break down these compounds to release energy, producing carbon dioxide as a waste product. This carbon dioxide is then expelled back into the atmosphere.
3) When living organisms die, their bodies decompose. During decomposition, decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down the organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Some carbon from the decomposed organic matter may also be stored in the soil as organic carbon.
4) Over millions of years, some of the organic carbon that is buried in the soil or the oceans may undergo burial and become fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. When humans extract and burn these fossil fuels for energy, carbon that was sequestered for millions of years is rapidly released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
Overall, the carbon cycle involves the continuous movement of carbon between the atmosphere, plants, animals, decomposers, and the Earth's surface, through processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and fossil fuel formation. This cycling of carbon is essential for the balance of carbon in the ecosystem and plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate.