Skip to content
Skip to main content

About this free course

Download this course

Share this free course

Introduction to ecosystems
Introduction to ecosystems

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

2.1 The carbon cycle

Dr Vince Gauci describes how carbon that plants have fixed from the atmosphere moves through an ecosystem and eventually is returned to the atmosphere. Carbon can be stored for long periods in the natural environment.

When you've watched the video think of some examples of places where carbon is stored.

Download this video clip.Video player: 2_2_the_peatbog_problem.mp4
Copy this transcript to the clipboard
Print this transcript
Show transcript|Hide transcript
 
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Life on earth is carbon based. A key feature of ecosystems is the passage of carbon through the system as part of the carbon cycle. Solar energy is captured in the leaves of plants and drives the incorporation of carbon into organic molecules. Carbon dioxide, in effect, combines with water to produce simple molecules. The process is called photosynthesis and in this video Sir David Attenborough describes it as the very basis of life.

How does the availability of light, water, carbon dioxide and nutrients affect the productivity of an ecosystem?

Download this video clip.Video player: 2_3_how_plants_make_food.mp4
Copy this transcript to the clipboard
Print this transcript
Show transcript|Hide transcript
 
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).