CARBON CYCLE

Question 1

What is the path of the carbon cycle (steps 1 -> 3)

Answer 1

1. Green plants use CO2 from the air for photosynthesis, making carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
2. Animals eating those plants carries carbon compounds into food webs
3. Respiration by aerobic organisms releases CO2 into the air

Question 2

What is the path of the carbon cycle? (steps 4 -> 6)

Answer 2

4. Plants/animals die and decompose, or killed and turned to useful products
5. Decomposers (a type of micro-organism), break down dead animals/plants, releasing enzymes that act as catalysts for the breakdown of dead material to smaller molecules
6. Wood, fossil fuels and other useful animal/plant organisms are burned and CO2 is released into the air (back to step 1)