Question

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Animals consume plants,
Carbon is found in all living organisms. The constant flow of carbon on Earth through organisms and the air is known as the carbon cycle.
absorb carbon from the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. They use it for respiration and
transferring carbon along the food chain. Plants and animals respire and release carbon into air. When the animals and plants die, they are eaten by
Carbon enters back into the atmosphere in the form of

Answer 1

The carbon cycle involves the transfer of carbon between the atmosphere and organisms. Autotrophs like plants absorb CO2 for photosynthesis, creating glucose for energy, while heterotrophs obtain carbon by consuming autotrophs and respire carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2.

Step-by-step explanation:

Living organisms cannot produce their own carbon, and rely on the carbon cycle to procure it. Autotrophs, like plants, absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the environment through the process of photosynthesis, converting it into glucose (C6H12O6), which is a form of stored energy. Heterotrophs, such as animals, then consume these autotrophs (or other heterotrophs) and incorporate the carbon content from their food into their own bodies.

Carbon is continuously cycled back into the atmosphere when living things, including both plants and animals, undergo cellular respiration. This process breaks down organic molecules to release energy and carbon dioxide back into the air. Also, when organisms die, their decomposition contributes to the transfer of carbon back into the environment, eventually returning to the atmosphere as CO2. Activities such as the burning of fossil fuels further add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, influencing global warming by increasing the greenhouse effect.

Therefore, photosynthesis and respiration are integral to the movement of carbon through ecosystems and the atmosphere, as they enable the transfer of carbon between autotrophs and heterotrophs, as well as the release and absorption of carbon dioxide in various forms.

Answer 2

Plants absorb carbon dioxide to create glucose via photosynthesis; animals consume plants and pass carbon up the food chain. Carbon is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through respiration and decomposition, completing the carbon cycle.

Step-by-step explanation:

Animals consume plants, which absorb carbon from the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is used by plants through the process of photosynthesis to create glucose, which is then transferred along the food chain as animals consume the plants and each other. Respiration by both plants and animals releases carbon back into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide.

When plants and animals die, they are decomposed by other organisms, and during this process, the carbon within their bodies is released into the atmosphere or soil, contributing to the carbon cycle. Carbon enters back into the atmosphere as CO2 after the respiration of living organisms and the decomposition of dead ones. The carbon cycle showcases how carbon is exchanged among the various spheres of Earth, making all living organisms interconnected.