carbon cycle

• stage 1- carbon enters the atmosphere through respiration and combustion
• stage 2- CO2 is absorbed by producers to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis
• stage 3- animals feed on plants passing the carbon compounds along the food chain. most carbon that they consume is lost through respiration. the animals and plants eventually die and their carbon is returned to the atmosphere.
• stage 4- dead organisms are decomposed the carbon in their bodies is returned to the atmosphere