Stages of the carbon cycle Flashcards
(10 cards)
what are the stages of the carbon cycle
- combustion
- respiration
- photosynthesis
- decay
- fossilisation
- ingestion
- assimilation
- egestion
combustion
stage 1 - burning
- increases CO2
- fossil fuels (coal, oil, petrol)
fuel + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water
respiration
stage 2 - increases CO2
- animal, plants, fungi
photosynthesis
stage 3 - decreases CO2
- plants (+ algae)
decay
stage 4 - increases CO2 due to decomposers respiring
fossilisation
stage 5 - dead organic material that does not decay
dead organic material ——> fossil fuels
ingestion
stage 6 - eating a starch / fat meal
assimilation
stage 7 - uptake and use of glucose by body cells
egestion
stage 8 - removal from the body of undigested food (fibre = cellulose)
Summary of carbon cycle
- carbon is found in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
- carbon in fixed into complex organic. compounds by plants during photosynthesis
- carbon in producers is passed onto consumers by feeding
- carbon is passed up the trophic levels of the food chain by ingestion
- when producers or consumers die or animals excrete organic waste, the complex molecules are decayed by the decomposers: fungi and bacteria
- decomposers are saprophytic feeders so they externally digest food
- producers, consumers and decomposers release co2 into the air during respiration
- if dead organisms or detritus are under extreme temp. or pressure, decay does not occur
- organic compounds converted into fossil fuels during fossilisation
- when fuels are combusted, they release methane