Carbon cycle question

Describe how carbon is cycled through living organisms and the non-living environment. [6 marks]

Carbon is stored in various forms, and the carbon cycle is the transferral of these carbon atoms. It is stored in the atmosphere, as carbon dioxide, in sedimentary rocks, in fossil fuels, in soil, in vegetation, and dissolved in oceans. Living autotrophs use the energy of sunlight to fix carbon dioxide, turning its carbon into sugars and other organic molecules. This removes carbon from the atmosphere. Terrestrial plants use gaseous carbon dioxide from the air, whereas, aquatic organisms use carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. When the plants die they are not fully decomposed by saprobionts so their bodies form layers of sediment that can form peat and coal, which can then be used for energy. The same occurs with aquatic organisms, on the sea bed. aerobic respiration releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is then recycled by the previously mentioned autotrophs. Carbon is also passed from autotroph to heterotroph through feeding.