Question

A carbon cycle is a biochemical event. Explain.

Answer 1

Hint: Carbon is an important element of living matter. The biosphere contains a complex mixture of carbon compounds that are in a continuous state of synthesis, transformation, and break down. The carbon cycle is a perfect gaseous cycle.

Complete answer:
A carbon cycle is a biochemical event because it involves the cyclic back and forth movement of carbon between the atmosphere and organisms. Carbon moves from the atmospheric reservoir to producers, then from producers to consumers, then from these groups to Decomposers, and finally from all these groups to the atmosphere. The removal of carbon from the atmosphere occurs through photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. Its return to the atmosphere occurs through respiration, decomposition, combustion, weathering and dissolution of carbonate rocks, volcanic actions, etc. Thus, the terrestrial carbon cycle begins with the fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. During this, carbon from Carbon dioxide is incorporated in glucose, with the simultaneous release of free oxygen to the atmosphere. Glucose is subsequently transformed into other organic compounds such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. In plants, these are stored as nutrients.

Additional Information: -From plants carbon enters the grazing and browsing food chains and reaches Decomposers through successive levels of consumers.
-In the death and decomposition of all these organisms, carbon enters the detritus food chain and again reaches the Decomposers through different trophic levels.
-After the death of plants and animals, some amount of carbon undergoes deep sedimentation and gets deposited in the soil as fossil fuels.

Note: -The respiratory activity of producers and consumers releases a considerable amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
-Some amount of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through non-biological processes such as combustion.
-The most substantial return of carbon to the atmosphere is accomplished by the processing of the dead remaining and wastes of plants and animals by Decomposers.