Phosphorus Cycle
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Where are phosphate ions found?
Sedimentary rock
Describe what happens to the phosphate ions in rocks at the beginning of the phosphorus cycle
• phosphate ions in rocks released by chemical weathering • and washed into soils by rain
Describe what happens to phosphate ions after chemical weathering
• the ions are absorbed by active transport • used in biological molecules such as ATP, DNA, RNA
Describe phosphate ions in consumers - part of phosphorus cycle
• consumers eat plants and animals containing phosphate ions • are digested and absorbed in the small intestine as nucleotides or phosphate ions • animal waste and dead plants and animals are decomposed by saprobionts - releasing phosphate ions back into the soil, where they can be taken up
Describe phosphates in water - part of phosphorus cycle
• some phosphates may be leached into water sources (streams, rivers, lakes) • where they are taken up by algae + incorporated into their biological molecules • algae may be eaten - incorporated into aquatic/ marine life
Describe phosphate in rocks - part of phosphorus cycle
• death of organisms - sink to the bottom of the water source and sediment • over long periods of time - forms sedimentary rock • can be exposed and weathered, releasing phosphate ions again
Describe what mycorrhizae is
Many plants have a mutualistic relationship with fungi Called mycorrhizae
What is extra-cellular digestion?
• where saprobionts digest food externally • then absorb digested products