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The Global Carbon Cycle Equilibrium = A state of balance The concentration of carbon in living matter (18%) is almost 100 times greater than its concentration in the earth (0.19%). So living things extract carbon from their nonliving environment. For life to continue, this carbon must be recycled and reused! Carbon exists in the nonliving (abiotic) environment as : carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and dissolved in water as HCO3− (bicarbonate) Calcite rocks, limestone and coral (CaCO3) Deposits of coal, petroleum, and natural gas derived from onceliving things (CnH2n+2) dead organic matter, e.g., humus in the soil Carbon enters the biotic (living) world through : the action of autotrophs: primarily photoautotrophs, like plants and algae, that use the energy of light to convert carbon dioxide to organic matter. Carbon returns to the atmosphere and water by : respiration (as CO2) & burning decay (producing CO2 if oxygen is present, methane (CH4) if it is not. Carbon returns to the atmosphere and water by : respiration (as CO2) & burning decay (producing CO2 if oxygen is present, methane (CH4) if it is not. Equilibrium = A state of balance Transport (ways carbon moves between reservoirs) Reservoir Carbon Form Put Into Reservoir Taken Out of Reservoir Transport (ways carbon moves between reservoirs) Reservoir Carbon Form Put Into Reservoir Taken Out of Reservoir Atmosphere CO2 Cellular Respiration in plants, animals and decomposers (mushrooms, bacteria) Combustion, burning Decay of dead organisms on land Photosynthesis in autotrophs (green plants on land.) Dissolving in water (where the atmosphere touches the water) Coral and sea shell building Transport (ways carbon moves between reservoirs) Reservoir Carbon Form Put Into Reservoir Taken Out of Reservoir Ocean HCO3(bicarbonate) Cellular Respiration in marine plants and animals Dissolving corals and sea shells Decay of dead organisms in the ocean Photosynthesis in marine autotrophs (blue green algae in oceans and lakes.) Dissolving in water (where the atmosphere touches the water) Coral and sea shell building Transport (ways carbon moves between reservoirs) Reservoir Carbon Form Put Into Reservoir Taken Out of Reservoir Fossil Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) CnH2n+2 (CH4, C2H6, etc) Dead plants buried before they decay Combustion, burning (Humans pump it out of the ground) Transport (ways carbon moves between reservoirs) Reservoir Carbon Form Put Into Reservoir Taken Out of Reservoir Carbonate Rocks (limestone & coral) CaCO3 (calcite) Dissolving in water from the atmosphere Weathering (surface) and dissolving release CO2 back into the atmosphere Transport (ways carbon moves between reservoirs) Reservoir Carbon Form Put Into Reservoir Taken Out of Reservoir Biomass (living organisms) CO2, CH4, C6H12O6 (glucose), many others Consuming plant and animal matter Cellular Respiration Transport (ways carbon moves between reservoirs) Reservoir Carbon Form Put Into Reservoir Taken Out of Reservoir Dead Organic Matter CO2, CnH2n+2, many other Photosynthesis (if plant) Consuming plant and animal matter (if animal) Decay Decomposition (eaten by microorganisms such as bacteria) Combusion, burning