How is phosphorus transferred between animals and soil at N?
When animals move, it is released into the soil.
Consumers exhale it as a gas that is fixed by bacteria in the soil.
When heavy winds blow, it is eroded off of living things.
Decomposers break it down from wastes and dead animals.
Phosphorus is primarily transferred between animals and soil at N through decomposers breaking it down from wastes and dead animals. When animals excrete waste or die, their organic matter contains phosphorus. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down this organic matter and release phosphorus into the soil in its inorganic form.
Additionally, when animals move or walk, they contribute to the mixing of soil layers. This movement helps release phosphorus present in the soil on the surface.
While consumers do not directly exhale phosphorus as a gas, they do release carbon dioxide during respiration. This carbon dioxide is fixed by photosynthetic organisms, such as plants, through the process of photosynthesis. This fixation ultimately leads to the incorporation of phosphorus into plant tissues, which then becomes available in the soil when these plants die and decompose.
It is important to note that heavy winds can cause erosion, which may contribute to the movement of phosphorus from living things into the soil. However, it should be emphasized that erosion is not the primary means of phosphorus transfer between animals and soil at N, as it mainly affects the physical movement of soil particles rather than the biochemical cycling of phosphorus.