The Carbon Cycle
Carbon travels throughout the Taiga biome. First, the carbon is used by plants when the plant undergoes photosynthesis. The plant uses carbon to help make its food. Then, the plant is eaten by a herbivore. When the herbivore consumes the plant, the carbon travels from the plant to the herbivore. After that, the herbivore is eaten by a carnivore and the carbon is transferred from the herbivore to the carnivore. When the carnivore dies, a decomposer then breaks down the carnivore and the carbon is transferred from the carnivore to the decomposer. Also, when the carnivore dies, if its remains are left alone and are not disturbed, after a while, the remains will decompose into the earth and the carbon from the carnivore will be absorbed into the earth and become a fossil fuel. When the fossil fuel is burned, the carbon is released into the air. The release of carbon into the air will give the carbon back to the plants.
Importance of the cycle to the organisms
The cycle of matter is different from the cycle of energy
The movement of matter through an ecosystem is different from the movement of energy through an ecosystem. The flow of matter is recycled within and between ecosystems. Energy cannot be recycled and it fuels the ecosystem. If the ecosystem did not have energy, it could nout survive. Although the movement of both matter and energy are different, they are similar in the fact that they are both being moved throughout an ecosystem by the transfer of the substances through eating.