In this deck, we'll explore how essential elements like carbon and nitrogen are recycled in ecosystems. These processes, known as nutrient cycles, ensure that the building blocks of life are continuously available for organisms.

Let's start with the carbon cycle. Carbon is the backbone of all life on Earth. The main reservoir of carbon is the atmosphere, where it exists as carbon dioxide. The first step in moving this carbon into living systems is photosynthesis.

Once carbon is 'fixed' in plants as organic compounds, it can be transferred to other organisms. This happens when animals eat the plants, or when other animals eat those animals, a process called feeding.

Carbon doesn't just stay in living things. All organisms, including plants and animals, release energy from their food through respiration. A waste product of this process is carbon dioxide, which is returned to the atmosphere.