Question

Complete the diagram below to show how matter and energy are typically transferred throughout an ecosystem.





Select each correct answer. More than one answer may be correct.


Examine the diagram of the carbon cycle shown above. Through which of the following processes is carbon removed from the atmosphere?

burning of fossil fuels
photosynthesis
decomposition of organic waste
respiration

Answer 1

In the carbon cycle, carbon is removed from the atmosphere primarily through the process of **photosynthesis**. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and convert it into organic compounds, effectively removing it from the air.

The other options involve carbon being released back into the atmosphere or do not directly remove carbon from the atmosphere:

- **Burning of fossil fuels**: This process releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- **Decomposition of organic waste**: This process also releases carbon back into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide or methane.
- **Respiration**: This biological process involves organisms using oxygen to break down glucose for energy, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

Thus, the correct answer for the process through which carbon is removed from the atmosphere is **photosynthesis**.