b4 biology

• Respiration is the process by which organisms release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a byproduct of cellular metabolism.
• The carbon cycle starts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Carbon can only enter the carbon cycle through photosynthesis.
• Photosynthesis uses light energy and is carried out by plants.
• Carbon dioxide returns back to the atmosphere by aerobic respiration, which is a process carried out by every single living organism.
• The carbon cycle involves two key processes: photosynthesis which burns carbon into the cycle and respiration which returns carbon back to the atmosphere.
• Plants and algae take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in photosynthesis, using the carbons to make carbohydrates, fats, and proteins which make up the cells of plants and algae.
• Plants and algae respire, releasing some of the carbon back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Animals eat plants and algae, and the carbon becomes part of the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the cells of animals.
• Animals respire, releasing some of the carbon back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Animals release waste products such as feces, and eventually all animals and plants die, leading to the formation of dead remains.
• Decomposing microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead remains, carrying out respiration and returning the carbon in the waste products to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Decomposers play a crucial role in cycling materials through an ecosystem and returning carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Decomposers also release mineral ions to the soil.
• Under certain conditions, such as a lack of oxygen, decomposers cannot function effectively, and the carbon in dead remains can slowly be converted to fossil fuels.
• Over the last 200 years, humans have been burning huge amounts of fossil fuels, releasing a large amount of carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere.
• The carbon cycle starts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Carbon can only enter the carbon cycle through photosynthesis.
• Photosynthesis uses light energy and is carried out by plants.
• Carbon dioxide returns back to the atmosphere by aerobic respiration, which is a process carried out by every single living organism.
• The carbon cycle involves two key processes: photosynthesis which burns carbon into the cycle and respiration which returns carbon back to the atmosphere.
• Plants and algae take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in photosynthesis, using the carbons to make carbohydrates, fats, and proteins which make up the cells of plants and algae.
• Plants and algae respire, releasing some of the carbon back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Animals eat plants and algae, and the carbon becomes part of the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the cells of animals.
• Animals respire, releasing some of the carbon back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Animals release waste products such as feces, and eventually all animals and plants die, leading to the formation of dead remains.
• Decomposing microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead remains, carrying out respiration and returning the carbon in the waste to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Decomposers play a crucial role in cycling materials through an ecosystem and returning carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• Decomposers also release mineral ions to the soil.
• Under certain conditions, such as a lack of oxygen, decomposers cannot function effectively, and the carbon in dead remains can slowly be converted to fossil fuels.
• Over the last 200 years, humans have been burning huge amounts of fossil fuels, releasing a large amount of carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere.
• Decomposing microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi carry out the decomposition of waste materials and dead remains, and return carbon to the atmosphere.
• Decomposers also return mineral ions back to the soil.
• The conditions required for decomposition include temperature, which is faster at warmer temperatures because the decomposers use enzymes to break down the plant materials, which work faster in warm conditions.
• Compost heaps tend to be quite warm anyway because decomposes release energy when they carry out aerobic respiration.
• It's important that the compost does not get too hot, as this can cause the enzymes and decomposers to denature and the decomposes can die.
• The second important condition for decomposition is the amount of water, as decomposing microorganisms work faster if the compost is moist, as many of the chemical reactions in decay require water.
• The final important condition for decay is the amount of oxygen, as decomposes carry out air respiration and this requires a good supply of oxygen.
• In the absence of oxygen, the decomposing microorganisms caveat anaerobic decay, which produces a mixture of gases including methane, and is scientifically known as biogas.
• Small-scale biogas generators are used in many parts of the world to provide fuel for homes, often using plant materials such as food waste or animal manure.