Wildlife Ecology- Phosphorus Cycle

Major pathways

1. plants absorb P dissolved in water -inorganic P becomes incorp. into organic molecules 2. movement of organic P through food web 3. release of P back into env. -animal waste -Phosphatising bacteria (organic P-->inorganic P) 4. proportion of P returned to sediment and new rocks

Biosphere

exchange pool in tissues of plants and animals soil organisms and detritus important roles -DNA/RNA -ATP/ADP -phospholipid cell membranes bones and teeth

hydrosphere

mainly reservoir pool phosphate salts (inorganic compounds with P) released as rocks weather

Phosphorous cycle

movement of P through its resevoirs and pools only cycle that does not include a gaseous stage

lithosphere

reservoir pool most commonly found in rocks and sediments as P salts *most in sedimentary rock* P can be in atmosphere