The Carbon Dioxide--Oxygen Cycle

Fossil Fuels

The burning of these has put more carbon back back into the atmosphere than can be cycled naturally.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon is present in Earth's atmosphere in the form of this gas.

Producers

Plants, also called this, use carbon dioxide to make there own food.

Oxygen

The resiperation of consumers uses this gas and releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Marine Algae

The world's oceans hold most of the carbon in a dissolved form. These organisms use the carbon and release oxygen into to atmosphere.

Consumer

These organisms cycle carbon through their bodies through the the foods they eat. After they die and decompose, carbon is released back into the soil and atmosphere.

Decomposer

These organisms feed off of dead material and release carbon back into the cycle.

Photosynthesis

This process, used by producers, releases oxygen into the atmosphere as a byproduct.

Aerobic

This type of resiperation uses oxygen and produces carbondioxide as a byproduct.