Phosphorus Cycle

• Phosphate ions are found in mineral form in sedementary rocks
• Mycorrhizae are fungal associations between roots and fungi acting as a sponge for phosphate ions with large networks for increased surface area, in return roots share carbohydrates
• Mutualistic Relationships are when both organisms benefit from the relationship
• Plants absorb phosphate ions via active transport, animals consume the plants and release them via excretion and decomposition creating a cycle
• Guano is bird excretion, with high levels of phosphate ions
• Erosion of sedementary rocks release phosphate ions, to be readily absorbed by plants
• Fertiliser is used to replace phosphate ions and nitrogen lost during farming

  • Natural fertilisers are cheap but vary in concentration
  • Artificial fertilisers are expensive but have exact proportion
• Eutrophication is when excess nutrients from agriculture and wastewater cause excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants, this blocks light in water, plants die and oxygen levels drop, killing fish and other aquatic animals