Question

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All organisms interact with their environment. choose one of the biogeochemical cycles and explain how various types of organisms are part of that cycle and help recycle the substance in an ecosystem. provide one example of how human activity has impacted the cycle you have chosen and one step we can take to reduce human impact on the ecosystem.

Answer 1

Carbon cycle

Plants (photosynthetic organisms)-Carbon is taken from the atmosphere in the form of CO2 which is used to make organic molecules (like glucose). Carbon travels through food chains and at the end it is released as CO2 in the process of cellular respiration.

Human (heterotrophic organisms)- Consume the organic carbon which is then passed through food chains and webs.

Decomposers - Release organic compounds and CO2 as they break down dead organisms and waste products.

Human impact-Increase the level of CO2 by burning of fossil fuels, which are made of carbon compounds from long-ago plants and by deforestation. CO2 is a greenhouse gas so its elevated levels in the atmosphere trap heat and keep it from radiating into space. As a consequence, climate change (temperature increase).