Biology GCSE
carbon cycle
What carbon cycle means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of carbon cycle
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Reference: OCR
Balances atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, cellular respiration, decomposition and combustion, ensuring a continuous flow of carbon for building carbohydrates, lipids and proteins across trophic levels.
Carbon moves between atmospheric carbon dioxide, organic macromolecules within food webs, fossil fuels, and carbonate rocks.
Carbon stored in the organic matter of peat is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide when decay or burning occurs.
Topics that use carbon cycle
- Land use (AQA GCSE)
- Ecosystems (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- abiotic and biotic components
- abiotic factors
- aerobic and anaerobic decomposition
- biotic factors
- carrying capacity
- Cellular respiration
- community distribution
- competition
Using carbon cycle in the exam
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