Amoeba Sisters: Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

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Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

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After the compost decomposes, you should get

• new seedlings

• nutrient-rich soil for plants

• seeds for planting

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Decomposers in Compost

• Function: They consume and break down organic material, releasing nutrients back into the soil.

• Major groups: Bacteria (most abundant), fungi, and some invertebrates like earthworms.

• Importance: Decomposers are crucial for the composting process, turning organic waste into nutrient-rich soil amendment.

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Carbon elements are buliding blocks for living things.

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A carbon source releases more carbon than it absorbs. A carbon sink is any reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases.

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A carbon reservoir is a place on Earth where carbon is stored, such as the ocean, atmosphere, soil, living organisms, and rocks

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How does an animal get carbon?  Select ALL that apply

• It eats a plant or other photosynthetic organism

• • It takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere when it breathes in.

  
  

• It eats another animal that ate a plant.

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How is carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere?

• It is released by plants through the process of photosynthesis.

• It is released by solid waste excreted by animals.

• It is released by plants and animals through the process of cellular respiration.

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The carbon cycle describes the continuous movement of carbon atoms between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms.

Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, then release it back into the atmosphere through respiration.

Animals consume plants and release carbon through their own respiration.

When organisms die, their carbon is released back into the environment through decomposition.

Oceans also play a major role in storing and exchanging carbon with the atmosphere.

Human activities like burning fossil fuels significantly impact the carbon cycle by adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

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Nitrogen is crucial for all life on earth.

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