Transcript Phosphorus Cycle

The global circulation of phosphorus
from the environment to living
organisms and back to the
environment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R
KkC2JpjaGc&feature=related
• Phosphorus cycles from the land to
sediments in the ocean and back to the
land.
• As water runs over minerals containing
phosphorus it wears away the surface
and carries off inorganic phosphate
molecules
• Plant roots absorb phosphorus in
the form of inorganic phosphates
• Phosphates are then incorporated
into biological molecules in cells
• Phosphorus released by decomposers
become a part of the soil’s inorganic
phosphate pool for plant use
Phosphorus moves through the food web as
one organism consumes another
Phosphorus in aquatic communities
• Dissolved phosphorus enters aquatic
communities through absorption and
assimilation by algae and plants
• These plants are consumed by plankton and
larger organisms
• Fish eat these organisms
• Decomposers releases inorganic phosphorus
back into the water
• A small amount of phosphate in an
aquatic food web comes back to the land
• Once on land, these minerals are
available for the roots of plants to
absorb