Carbon Cycle

Humans release carbon dioxide through cellular respiration (a byproduct of metabolism) and through the combustion of fossil fuels for energy.

Over millions of years, the remains of decomposed organisms under heat and pressure are transformed into fossil fuels, which are then burned for energy.

Photosynthesis is the biological process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and release oxygen as a byproduct.

Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Animals release carbon dioxide as a waste product of cellular respiration, which is the process of breaking down glucose for energy.

Most of the carbon consumed by animals is used for energy through cellular respiration, which releases the carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Oxygen is found in many places on Earth because it comes from both biotic factors (living organisms like plants producing oxygen through photosynthesis) and abiotic factors (non-living sources like atmospheric processes and chemical reactions in rocks/minerals). If it came only from biotic factors, oxygen would only exist where life exists. If only from abiotic, oxygen wouldn't be tied to biological processes.

Carbon compounds are transferred through the food chain when consumers (animals) eat producers (plants) or other consumers.

In ecology, 'abiotic' refers to non-living physical and chemical elements, while 'biotic' refers to living or once-living organisms.

Respiration is a key process in the carbon cycle because it breaks down organic carbon compounds and releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

Decomposition is the process by which decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and releasing gases like carbon dioxide.

Carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide primarily through respiration (by all living things) and combustion (burning of organic matter or fossil fuels).