B1.6 Waste materials from plants and animals

Question 1

In the carbon cycle:1Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Answer 1

Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Green plants and algae remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by photosynthesis. The carbon becomes part of complex molecules such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the plants and algae.

Question 2

decomposition what is it

Answer 2

Decay is an essential life process that digests food or waste matter and recycles materials. Materials from living things decay because they are digested (broken down) by microorganisms. These microorganisms cause decay by releasing enzymes that break down compounds to be absorbed by their cells.
Bacteria and fungi are the main groups of decomposer.

Question 3

Factors affecting decay

Answer 3

The factors that affect the rate of decay include:
moisture
temperature
amount of available oxygen.
Microorganisms are more active and digest materials faster when they are in moist, warm and aerobic conditions. They will digest materials more slowly in dry, cold and anaerobic conditions.

Question 4

what do all cells need

Answer 4

All cells contain carbon compounds such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Carbon is passed from the atmosphere, as carbon dioxide, to living things. It is passed from one organism to the next in complex molecules, and returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide again.

Question 5

In the carbon cycle:vReturning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere

Answer 5

vReturning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
Organisms return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by respiration. It is not just animals that respire. Plants, algae and microorganisms do too.
Carbon dioxide is also released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels such as coal and oil, and wood, are burned.

Question 6

In the carbon cycle:Passing carbon from one organism to the next

Answer 6

Passing carbon from one organism to the next
When an animal eats a plant, carbon from the plant becomes part of the fats and proteins in the animal. Microorganisms and some animals feed on waste material from animals, and the remains of dead animals and plants. The carbon then becomes part of these microorganisms and detritus feeders.
This slideshow should help you to understand how the cycle works: