Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle
Starter: Answer the questions

1) How many trophic levels are shown? Automaticity
2) Which trophic level has the greatest number of organisms?

3) Which has the greatest biomass?
4) How much energy is
transferred along each
trophic level?
5) Suggest why not all the
energy is transferred
Self assessment in red pen
1) How many trophic levels are shown?
4
2) Which trophic level has the greatest number of organisms?
Primary consumer (Caterpillars)
3) Which has the greatest biomass?
Producer (oak tree)
4) How much energy is transferred along each trophic level?
10%
5) Suggest why not all the energy is transferred
Respiration causes energy to be lost as heat
Not all parts of an organism are eaten
Some is indigestible
Some lost through excretion
Specification points - Lesson outcomes
4.10 describe the stages in the carbon cycle, including respiration, photosynthesis,
decomposition and combustion
Prior learning
Energy is lost along trophic levels in a food chain - only about 10%
energy transferred from one trophic level to the next
The producer is found at the start of a food chain and transfers light
energy to chemical energy in food by photosynthesis
Photosynthesis: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Consumers are organisms that eat other organisms, found further up

the food chain
How are biological substances recycled?
The atoms that make up
our bodies have all been
around before.
They are constantly being
recycled, as part of the
cycle of life, death and
decay.
Discuss: What do all these molecules have in common?
Connection finding
They all
contain
carbon
Why is carbon important?
Carbon is a component of all major biological molecules.
● Carbohydrates
● Lipids These are considered
● Proteins organic compounds.
● DNA
● Vitamins Carbon dioxide is an
inorganic molecule
How is carbon recycled?
We should already be aware of two processes that involve
carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide….
Photosynthesis ‘fixes’
carbon atoms from
carbon dioxide into
organic compounds, such
as glucose and starch.
Feeding (and assimilation)
passes carbon atoms in
organic compounds along
food chains
Assimilation: Manufacture of new products in

cells using the products of digestion
Respiration produces carbon dioxide from organic
compounds as they are broken down to release energy
Bacteria and fungi
break down organic
compounds into simpler
substances, which is
released into the
environment. When
they respire, they
release carbon dioxide.
Fossilisation: Some living
organisms may not fully
decay, due to the conditions
of the soil (ie too acid) and
fossil fuels are formed.
These contain the carbon
from the living organisms
Combustion: When
fossil fuels are burnt,
one of the products is
carbon dioxide, which is
then released into the
atmosphere.
Hydrocarbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water

Some carbon may also
dissolve into oceans, or
form carbonate rocks.
Task: Identify if the process releases or removes carbon from
the atmosphere or allows carbon to remain in organisms
Photosynthesis Removes carbon from atmosphere

Feeding Carbon remains in food chain
Respiration Releases carbon into the atmosphere
Decay Releases carbon into the atmosphere

Combustion Releases carbon into the atmosphere
Challenge: Explain the importance of plants in the balance of

atmospheric gases such as CO2 ,and O2
Task: Add labels to the carbon cycle diagram
Access:
Photosynthesis x1
Respiration x 3
Death / Decay x 2
Feeding
Fossilisation
Combustion
Self
assessment
in red pen
Combustion Respiration
Respiration
Respiration Death Photosynthesis
Fossilisation Death Feeding

Task: Answer the questions
1) Name, and give the word equation for the process which removes carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere
Challenge: Give the symbol equation
2) Name, and give the word equation for the process which all living organisms do,
that produces carbon dioxide
3) State 2 ways carbon is released into the atmosphere
4) Name 2 types of decomposers
5) How is carbon transferred from one organism to another Practice
6) What name is given to the process where organisms don’t decay? What conditions
would this occur in.
7) What is the general word equation for complete combustion
Challenge: Give the symbol equation, assuming the hydrocarbon is methane, CH4
1) Name, and give the word equation for the process which removes carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere
Photosynthesis:
Carbon dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen
6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
2) Name, and give the word equation for the process which all living
organisms do, that produces carbon dioxide
Respiration:
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water
C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O
3) State 2 ways carbon is released into the atmosphere
Respiration, Combustion
4) Name 2 types of decomposers
Bacteria and fungi
5) How is carbon transferred from one organism to another
Feeding
6) What name is given to the process where organisms don’t decay? What
conditions would this occur in.
Fossilisation, it occurs in acidic soils
7) What is the general word equation for complete combustion
Challenge: Give the symbol equation, assume the hydrocarbon is methane CH4
Combustion
Hydrocarbon (methane) + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water
CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O
Task:
Complete the
exam question
Speed and accuracy

Combustion
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Decay
Respiration
C
How are biological substances recycled?
Decomposers play an
important role of the
recycling of carbon.
Decomposers: Organisms
that feeds by breaking
down the dead remains of
other organisms.
These include bacteria
and fungi - and are also
called saprotrophs
How do decomposers break down substances?
Fungi and bacteria feed by

saprotrophic nutrition. This is
where dead organic matter is
digested outside of the body by
extracellular enzymes.
Digestion is the break down of large, insoluble
substances into smaller, soluble substances.
How do decomposers break down substances?
In fungi, the enzymes

are secreted out of
structures called
hyphae (s. Hypha),
through cell surface
membranes. Products
of digestion are also
absorbed here.
Key vocab review
1. What P is a process performed by plants Photosynthesis

which removes carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere?
2. What D describes organisms which break down dead organic
Decomposition
matter
Respiration
3. What R is a process done by all living organisms
4. What C is a scientific term for burning Combustion
5. What F passes carbon containing compounds from organism to
organism Feeding
6. What SN describes how fungi get their nutrients
Saprotrophic nutrition
ESQ: Describe how fungi decompose tree logs. (4)
Fungi are saprotrophs (1).
Extracellular (1) enzymes (1) are secreted from hyphae (1)
onto the wood, which is then broken down (1) into products the
fungi use for nutrition.
When they respire, they release carbon dioxide (1)
Access: Key words:
Saprotroph
Extracellular
Enzymes
Hyphae
Broken down
Carbon dioxide
ESQ: Factors affecting decomposition
Decomposition by bacteria helps to release mineral ions, such as

nitrates, into the soil.
(i) Explain why the rate of decomposition is affected by the pH of the
soil. (2)
Enzymes work fastest at a specific optimum pH.
In extreme pHs, they denature.
CORMs practice.
A garden bench is painted with a fungicide solution.
Automaticity
This prevents the wood being decomposed because fungicide kills
fungi.
There are different fungicides that can be used.
Design an investigation to find out which fungicide is best at
preventing the decomposition of wooden logs.
Your answer should include experimental details and be written in
full sentences.
Collect 200 logs of the same
species, and divide into 4
groups of 50 logs. To each
group of logs, apply a different
fungicide. Keep logs in the
same conditions such as
temperature, oxygen levels,
moisture and ensure you
apply the same volume of
fungice. After 1 month,
measure the decrease in
mass of the logs compared to
the start.
Progress check: Are the statements true or false
1) Bacteria and fungi are examples of

consumers
2) Photosynthesis removes carbon from the Speed and accuracy
atmosphere
3) Some carbon is locked up in fossils and 1. False
rocks 2. True
4) Plants do not respire 3. True
5) The enzymes in saprotrophic nutrition are 4. False
5. True
extracellular
6. True
6) Combustion of fossil fuels contributes to
CO2 emissions
Learning review
Carbon atoms are recycled and passed between the atmosphere and
living organisms
Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and

fixes it into organic molecules, which are passed from organism to
organism when they feed
Respiration releases carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere as well as

combustion of fossil fuels
Decomposers break down dead organisms and release CO2 when

they respire. They include fungi and bacteria

Carbon Cycle

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Carbon Cycle

Starter: Answer the questions

2) Which trophic level has the greatest number of organisms?

Photosynthesis: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Consumers are organisms that eat other organisms, found further up

Assimilation: Manufacture of new products in

Hydrocarbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water

Photosynthesis Removes carbon from atmosphere

Decay Releases carbon into the atmosphere

Challenge: Explain the importance of plants in the balance of

Respiration Death Photosynthesis

Fossilisation Death Feeding

Speed and accuracy

Fungi and bacteria feed by

In fungi, the enzymes

1. What P is a process performed by plants Photosynthesis

Decomposition by bacteria helps to release mineral ions, such as

1) Bacteria and fungi are examples of

Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and

Respiration releases carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere as well as

Decomposers break down dead organisms and release CO2 when

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