A: The movement of carbon and oxygen between the atmosphere, oceans,plants,animals and the ground is called the carbon-oxygen cycle. This cycle is very important as it ensures that the atmosphere always contains the right amount of oxygen and carbondioxide.
The Carbon – Oxygen Cycle
Note: The carbon and oxygen cycles are independent but very closely related. Some of the information that you find on the carbon cycle will not contain information on the oxygen cycle.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken in by plants to be used in the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis carbon based compounds are produced from this CO2 and the water (H2O) that is absorbed by the roots of the plant. Plants give off oxygen (O2) as a waste product of photosynthesis.
When animals consume plants or other animals they take in the carbon based compounds. Animals inhale the O2 given off by plants and exhale CO2, a waste product of cellular respiration.
Plants also take in CO2 and release O2 during the process of cellular respiration.
The activities described above are just a part of the interactions which take place in the carbon – oxygen cycle.
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