Carbon Cycle

Carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide from respiration and combustion

Carbon dioxide is absorbed by producers to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis.

Animals feed on plants, passing the carbon compounds along the food chain. Most carbon they consume is exhaled as carbon dioxide during respiration. The animals and plants eventually die

Dead organisms are eaten by decomposers and carbon in their bodies is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

The plant and animal material may then be available as fossil fuel in the future for combustion.