Carbon cycle

Carbon cycle

The carbon cycle shows the pathway by which carbon atoms are passed from one organism to another, and between organisms and their enviroment
Carbon in the atmosphere and the oceans; the store of carbon in the oceans is 50 times more than in the atmosphere. Links in the carbon cycle between the atmosphere and the oceans mean that as carbon dioxide concentration increases in the atmosphere, more becomes dissolved in water. This carbon dioxide is then converted to hydrocarbonate ions. The reverse happens when atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are low.
The carbon cycle shows how carbon is passed on and recycled;
1. 1.Carbon (CO2 from water and air) is absorbed by plants when they carry out photosynthesis, it becomes carbon compounds in plant tissues
  1. 2. Carbon is passed on to its primary consumers when they eat the plants. It is passed onto secondary and tertiary consumers when they eat other consumers
    1. 3. All living organisms die and the carbon compunds in the dead organisms are digested by microorganisms called decomposers e.g. bacteria and fungi. Feeding on dead organic matter is called saprobiontic nutrition
      1. 4. Carbon is returned to the air (+ water) as all living organisms (including decomposers) carry out respiration, which produces CO2
        5. If dead organic matter ends up in places where there arent any decomposers, e.g. deep oceans or bogs, their carbon compounds can be aimed into fossil fuels over millions of years (by heat and pressure)
        6. The carbon in fossil fuels is released when they're burnt - this is called combustion

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