Question

Describe the cycling of carbon in the carbon cycle as it passes through the living and non-living components of the ecosystem.
short and in a way a 6th grader can understand no points

Answer 1

Carbon is an atom that moves between living things and the non-living parts of Earth. Plants take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and use sunlight to make food (this is called photosynthesis). Animals get carbon by eating plants (or other animals) and then release some carbon back into the air when they breathe. When plants and animals die, decomposers (like bacteria and fungi) break them down and return carbon to the soil and air, and over millions of years some carbon becomes fossil fuels. Oceans also soak up and store carbon. This cycling of carbon keeps ecosystems alive and helps control Earth’s climate.