Final answer:
The process that moves carbon through ecosystems and helps maintain equilibrium in the carbon cycle is photosynthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. During this process, carbon is taken in from the atmosphere and incorporated into organic molecules, such as glucose. Through photosynthesis, carbon is naturally cycled through ecosystems, as it moves from the atmosphere to plants, and then to animals and other organisms.
For example, consider a tree. Through photosynthesis, a tree takes in carbon dioxide and converts it into glucose, which is used for energy and growth. When animals eat the leaves or fruits of the tree, they obtain this carbon, and when animals die and decompose, their bodies release carbon back into the environment, completing the carbon cycle.
Learn more about The role of photosynthesis in the carbon cycle