The Carbon Cycle

Question 1

what is an ecosystem

Answer 1

• a combination of all the organisms living in an area
• as well as the abiotic factors or non-living conditions
• such as soil quality and temperature

Question 2

what are materials in an ecosystem recycled through

Answer 2

• both the abiotic (non-living)

- and the biotic components of an ecosystem (living)

Question 3

what are living organisms essentially made up of and what are examples of this

Answer 3

• they are made up of elements they take from the environment
• such as plants taking CO2 from the air and releasing O2 while also absorbing nitrogen from the soil

Question 4

what does a plant do to the elements that it absorbs from its environment

Answer 4

• it uses them as materials to build complex components and molecules
• such as carbohydrates and proteins
• that make up the biomass of the living organism

Question 5

how can elements be passed on from one organism to another

Answer 5

• through eating the other organism
• and consuming some of its biomass
• which has been composed of the elements from the environment

Question 6

how are the elements from the environment that have already been absorbed finally recycled

Answer 6

• waste products from animals and dead organisms are broken down by decomposers (usually microorganisms)
• and the elements from them are returned to the soil and air
• which are ready to be absorbed by plants again and be reintroduced into the food chain

Question 7

what does carbon being constantly recycled in the environment imply about its abndance

Answer 7

that there is only a fixed amount of carbon in the air that can be used in the world

Question 8

what is the carbon cycle essentially powered by and why is this

Answer 8

• the cycle is powered by the photosynthesis of plants
• because it is pretty much the only way for carbon in the air to be absorbed by something on the surface that can use it to produce biomass

Question 9

what do plants and trees in the carbon cycle use the absorbed carbon in the air for

Answer 9

producing complex compounds and molecules such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates through photosynthesis

Question 10

what does an animal eating a plant do the carbon components in the plant

Answer 10

it is transferred to the animal that has eaten it in the food chain

Question 11

how do animals release CO2 into the air while they are alive and moving

Answer 11

• through respiration

- which has CO2 released into the air

Question 12

what happens when plants die and decompose or are killed to be turned into useful products

Answer 12

they are broken down by organisms such as bacteria and fungi

Question 13

how does the decomposition of dead plants release CO2 into the air

Answer 13

• the decomposers that are breaking the plant down

- release CO2 into the air through respiration as they are doing work

Question 14

how does turning animals and plants into useful products release CO2 into the air

Answer 14

• materials such as wood and fossil fuels
• that are made from the decomposition of plants and animals
• are burned through combustion, which releases CO2 into the atmosphere

Question 15

why is it a good thing for materials in an ecosystem to decompose

Answer 15

• it means that the habitats for organisms that live there can be maintained
• such as nutrients being returned to the soil for maintaining its fertility
• and waste such as dead leaves being able to decompose do that it doesnt pile up