Waste materials from plants and animals Flashcards
Why do living things remove materials from an environment?
For growth and other living processes.
How are materials returned to the environment after they have been used by a living thing?
Either in waste materials or when they die and decay.
Why do materials decay?
They are broken down/digested by microorganisms.
In what environment do microorganisms digest materials fastest?
Warm, moist and aerobic conditions.
The decay process releases substances that allow what type of organisms to grow?
Plants.
A community where the processes of removing materials is balanced with the processes that return materials, is known as what type of community?
A stable community.
Carbon is removed from the atmosphere by plants and algae using which process?
Photosynthesis.
Carbon from carbon dioxide is used to make what in plants and algae?
Carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
When plants and algae respire carbon dioxide…
…is released into the atmosphere.
Carbon enters animals when…
…plants and algae are eaten and animals are eaten by other animals.
When animals respire…
…some of the carbon becomes carbon dioxide and is released into the atmosphere.
When plants and algae die what feeds on their bodies?
Microorganisms and some animals. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere when these respire.
Combustion of wood and fossil fuels…
…releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
