Final answer:
Cellular respiration is a key process for moving carbon between the biosphere and atmosphere, involving autotrophs and heterotrophs in a continuous exchange of CO2 via processes of respiration and photosynthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cellular respiration facilitates the movement of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere, playing a crucial role in the carbon cycle. This complex series of processes allows organisms to convert the energy stored in glucose into ATP, producing carbon dioxide as a byproduct, which is then released into the atmosphere. Plants, algae and cyanobacteria, as autotrophs, can fix atmospheric CO2 during the process of photosynthesis to build carbohydrates like glucose. In a terrarium model, a plant would be an excellent example of an autotroph; it uses CO2 to produce its food.
A snail or insect inside the terrarium, acting as heterotrophs, consumes the glucose produced by the plant for energy, emitting CO2 back into the atmosphere during cellular respiration. This illustrates the continuous exchange of carbon between heterotrophs and autotrophs via atmospheric CO2, which is a central aspect of the carbon cycle.