AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -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.

Detailed explanation-2: -Carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere during respiration of consumers, which breaks down glucose and other complex organic compounds and converts the carbon back to carbon dioxide for reuse by producers.

Detailed explanation-3: -How does carbon cycle back to the atmosphere or ocean? To release the energy stored in carbon-containing molecules, such as sugars, autotrophs and heterotrophs break these molecules down in a process called cellular respiration. In this process, the carbons of the molecule are released as carbon dioxide.

Detailed explanation-4: -Secondary consumers eat producers, respirate, releasing energy in the body and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Decomposers break down dead producers, consumers, and waste. As they break these down they respirate returning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and nutrients to the soil.

Detailed explanation-5: -The purpose of cellular respiration is simple: it provides cells with the energy they need to function. If living things could not get the energy they need out of food, it would be absolutely worthless. All living things would eventually die, no matter the quality and amount of food.