Phosphorous Cycle

• The phosphate cycle involves the movement of phosphorus through different forms such as organic matter (plants), rocks, soil, water bodies, and atmosphere.
• It is important that that phosphorus is available in the soil so plants can absorb it - phosphates then get passed to animals when they eat plants to make their biological molecules.
• Why might some soils have naturally more phosphorus than in other soils?

  They may have more microbial saprobionts or be a higher flooding risk.
• How do cattle contribute to the phosphorus cycle?

  They produce waste and get broken down by microbial saprobionts when they die.
• What is the correct term for decomposers?

  Microbial saprobionts.
• What is bird and bat waste called?

  Guano.
• The phosphorus cycle takes place in two areas: aquatic ecosystem and terrestrial ecosystem.
• What is the aquatic ecosystem part of the phosphorus cycle?

  >Wind and rain erode phosphate-rich rocks.

  >Rivers carry gravel and silt to water bodies.

  >Silt becomes sediment and then new rock due to high pressure.

  >Dead organisms are decomposed by microbial saprobionts to release phosphates in water. The fossils containing phosphates become trapped in sedimentary rock.

  >Geological uplift pushes new rock to the surface.
• What is the terrestrial ecosystem part of the phosphorous cycle?

  >Animals and plants undergo death.

  >Microbial saprobionts break down plant and animal matter, releasing phosphates into the soil.

  >Plants absorb phosphorous from the soil, which are then eaten by animals.
• How are the two ecosystems in the phosphorous cycle connected?

  >Runoff from phosphates in farming into the aquatic ecosystem.

  >Phosphorous from decomposed material leaches into water bodies in the aquatic ecosystem from the soil in the terrestrial ecosystem.