Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to make glucose (food) for plants. These plants can then be eaten by animals. Carbon is used by plants and animals and returned to the biosphere through waste and decomposition. Living organisms use cellular respiration to convert food energy (glucose) into usable cellular energy (ATP). Photosynthesis and cellular respiration have a relationship in that the reactants of one are the products of the other. Arrows A and D in the graphic both show the process of cellular respiration. Using this information, what can you infer about the contribution of cellular respiration to the cycling of carbon through the carbon cycle?
From the given information, it can be inferred that cellular respiration plays a role in returning carbon back into the biosphere through waste and decomposition. This implies that cellular respiration is a part of the carbon cycle and contributes to the recycling of carbon.
