AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Plants prepare their food on their own with the help of sunlight, water, chlorophyll and carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. Animals on the other hand depend on other animals or plants. If they eat plants as their food, they are taking in carbon. In this way, carbon is also passed as a food chain.

Detailed explanation-2: -When animals eat food, they get carbon in the form of carbohydrates and proteins. In animals, oxygen combines with food in the cells to produce energy for daily activity and then gives off carbon.

Detailed explanation-3: -Animals obtain their carbon by eating plants; they release carbon in respiration. Micrororganisms (such as fungi and bacteria) return carbon to the environment when they decompose dead plants and animals.

Detailed explanation-4: -Through the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is pulled from the air to produce food made from carbon for plant growth. Carbon moves from plants to animals. Through food chains, the carbon that is in plants moves to the animals that eat them. Animals that eat other animals get the carbon from their food too.

Detailed explanation-5: -Animals that eat plants digest the sugar molecules to get energy for their bodies. Respiration, excretion, and decomposition release the carbon back into the atmosphere or soil, continuing the cycle.