[19] Carbon cycle

how are fossil fuels made?

they are made of decayed plant and animal matter

how is CO₂ from the air brought down

by photosynthesis, green plants use carbon from CO₂ to make carbohydrates, lipids and proteins

how are carbon compounds passed down from a green plant e.g. tree

eating passes the carbon compounds in the plant along to animals in a food chain or web

how is CO₂ released by animals

respiration

what happens when plants / animals die and decompose

they are broken down by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi (decomposers) and they release enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of dead material into smaller molecules. these decomposers release CO₂ back into the air by respiration as they break down the material

What happens when useful plant and animal products like wood and fossil fuels are burned?

When useful products like wood from plants and fossil fuels are burned through combustion, carbon dioxide is released back into the air. This process returns stored carbon to the atmosphere.

what does the decomposition of materials mean for a habitat

it means that habitats can be maintained for the organisms that live there as nutrients are returned to the soil and waste material like dead leaves does not pile up

How does the process of decomposition recycle nutrients back into the environment?

decomposition releases nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium into the soil which are absorbed by plants, which helps new life grow completing the cycle of matter in nature.

What is the carbon cycle and how does it work?

Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air during photosynthesis. Animals eat the plants and release CO₂ back into the air through respiration. When plants and animals die, decomposers break them down, releasing more CO₂. Carbon is also stored long-term in fossil fuels. When fossil fuels and wood are burned through combustion CO₂ is released back into the atmosphere, continuing the cycle.