Question

Natural reservoir of phosphorus is
A. Animal bones
B. Rock
C. Fossils
D. Sea water

Answer 1

Hint:Natural reservoir means where the natural elements, nutrients, water, pathogens, etc are found and stored. Natural reservoirs may be a pond, lake, animal fossils, rock etc.

Complete answer:
First, to answer this question, we need to learn about the availability of phosphorus in nature. Phosphorus is a naturally occurring element found in minerals, soil, living organisms and water. Plant growth and production involve significant amounts of phosphorus. Phosphorus is important for early root growth and accelerates plant maturity. The types of phosphorus present in the soil can include synthetic, soluble or bound types. Understanding the relationship between these sources of phosphorus is important to understand the usage of phosphorus by plants and the degree to which phosphorus can travel through the ecosystem.

Now, let us find the solution from the given options -
>Phosphorus accounts for around 1 to 1.4 percent of the fat-free mass in humans. Of these, 85 percent is in bones and teeth, and 15 per cent is in the blood and soft tissues. Several different forms of food contain phosphorus, mostly in the form of phosphates and phosphate esters.
>Sedimentary rocks are the largest reservoir of phosphorus. Phosphates are removed from the rocks and are spread throughout both soils and water. Plants are taking phosphate ions out of the soil. Phosphates shift from plants to animals as herbivores consume plants and carnivores eat plants or herbivores.The phosphates consumed by animal tissue through ingestion gradually return to soil through the excretion of urine and feces, as well as through the final decomposition of plants and animals after death.
>Soft tissue fossils, such as those found in the Burgess Shale, are uncommon. For certain cases, their internal organs are replicated as phosphates. Phosphate comes mostly from the tissue itself and can be substituted later by calcium carbonate.
>Phosphorus in the ocean encourages the formation of microbes and tiny marine plants called phytoplankton, which form the basis of the marine food chain.

Thus, the right answer is, option B. i.e., Rock.

Note: Phosphorus is a major component of biological membranes, nucleic acids and cellular energy transfer systems. Many animals do need a large quantity of this item to make shells, bones and teeth.