The Carbon Cycle

What does organic mean

It contains carbon and hydrogen

What do photosynthetic organisms do?

They convert CO2 to organic molecules used by heterotrophs

What do carbon reservoirs include?

Fossil fuels, soils and sediments, solutes in oceans, plant and animal biomass, the atmosphere, and sedimentary rocks

What happens to CO2 in the carbon cycle?

It is taken up by the process of photosynthesis and released in the atmosphere through cellular respiration

What are the steps of the carbon cycle?

Burning of fossil fuels and wood (combustion), Photosynthesis, Cellular respiration, Photosynthesis, and Decomposition

What types of organisms contribute to the carbon cycle?

Phytoplankton and consumers

What does PHOTOSYNTHESIS do in the carbon cycle

Removes CO2 from the atmosphere by absorbing it through pores in plant leaves and using sunlight to convert it, along with water, into sugars (glucose) and oxygen

What does RESPIRATION do in the carbon cycle

Adds CO2 into the atmosphere by consumers and producers as they break down organic compounds (like glucose) for energy, a process that releases CO₂ as a byproduct. This CO₂ is exhaled by animals and released by the decomposition of dead organisms.

What does EATING do in the carbon cycle

It breaks down food and returns CO2 into the atmosphere along with waste by transferring carbon through the food chain, and then releasing it as CO2 through the process of cellular respiration

What does BURNING do in the carbon cycle

Adds CO2 into the atmosphere when organic materials, such as fossil fuels and biomass, combine with oxygen to form carbon dioxide

What role do CONSUMERS play in the carbon cycle

They obtain carbon by eating other organisms and, as they break down the carbon-containing organic molecules from their food, they release CO₂ as a byproduct that returns to the atmosphere, completing the carbon cycle. 

What role do PHYTOPLANKTON play in the carbon cycle?

They use dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) from the ocean to perform photosynthesis, converting it into organic matter like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to grow