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 starts with photosynthesis, where carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is taken up by plants and converted into organic compounds such as glucose. This is the living component of the ecosystem as plants are living organisms.
2) The organic compounds produced by plants are then consumed by herbivores, such as animals, who obtain carbon by feeding on plants. This transfers carbon from the living plant component to the living animal component of the ecosystem.
3) When living organisms respire, they release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. This returns carbon from the living components of the ecosystem back to the non-living atmosphere.
4) When living organisms die or produce waste, their organic matter decomposes or is broken down by decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. During decomposition, carbon is released back into the environment as carbon dioxide or organic carbon compounds. This transfers carbon from the living components of the ecosystem to the non-living component, which is the organic matter in the soil or water.
Overall, the cycling of carbon in the carbon cycle involves the transfer of carbon between the living and non-living components of the ecosystem through processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.