Question

Explain the carbon cycles in your own words with suitable diagrams.

Answer 1

• The circulation and recycling of carbon from the atmosphere to living organisms and after their death back to the atmosphere is called the carbon cycle.
• Abiotic carbon atoms are circulated and recycled into biotic form mainly through photosynthesis and respiration.
• Hence, the carbon cycle is one of the important bio-geochemical cycles.
• Plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates by the process of photosynthesis.
• Similarly, they produce carbon compounds like proteins and fats, too.
• Carnivores feed upon herbivores. In this way, biotic carbon is transported from plants to herbivores, from herbivores to carnivores and from carnivores to apex consumers.
• Eventually, after death, all types of consumers, are decomposed by decomposers like bacteria and fungi and carbon dioxide is released again into the atmosphere and is used again by living organisms.
• In this way, carbon is continuously passed on from one living organism to another. After the death of living organisms, carbon goes to the atmosphere and is again taken up by living organisms.