How does carbon enter the atmosphere? What effect does it have on Earth? How does it cycle back for
use in biological components? What will be an ideal response?
ANS:Answer
should include:
? Carbon enters the atmosphere though the respiration of all living things as carbon
dioxide. Volcanic eruptions and the burning of fossil fuels also send carbon back to into
the atmosphere.
? An increase of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere creates an increase in surface
temperatures. This is due to the "greenhouse effect."
? Photosynthetic organisms capture sunlight to fix carbon dioxide into organic molecules
that can be used.
? When primary consumers eat producers, they are able to obtain and use some of the
converted carbon. It can be incorporated into an animal's body for growth. Some of the
carbon will be respired out or excreted by the organism.
? Dissolved organic carbon is excreted back into seawater. Then the whole cycle starts
over again.
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