Final answer:
The carbon cycle directly affects the ecosystem by energizing nutrient resuspension and photosynthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The carbon cycle directly affects the ecosystem described in the question by energizing the resuspension of nutrients and causing the process of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere dissolves in water and reacts with water molecules to form ionic compounds. Some of these compounds combine with other ions to form calcium carbonate, a major component of shells and sediments in the oceans. When organisms die, their shells sink to the ocean floor, and the nutrients contained in them become available for reuse by other organisms through a process called ocean upwelling.