The role of respiration in the carbon cycle can be seen when animals respire, they release or emit carbon molecules back into the atmosphere. Prior to this, animals undergo respiration (t he process by which organisms release energy from their food) and plants pass through the process of combustion ( the process of burning) which results in the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon cycle step begins with the entry of carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. The above mentioned are the main carbon cycle steps and these steps are explained below

The release of carbon into the atmosphere.

Carbon compounds are transferred in the food chain.

Photo credit: UCAR Steps of the carbon cycle It is worth noting that carbon atoms are incorporated into various molecules as they move through the cycle for instance, photosynthesis in plants and respiration in animals. The carbon cycle diagram ( The above carbon cycle diagram depicts how carbon atoms travel between different reservoirs in the Earth system. Maintaining this carbon balance ensures that the planet remains habitable for life. This means that the amount of carbon naturally released from sinks equals the amount naturally absorbed by reservoirs.

The carbon cycle is critical to the survival of life on Earth and needs to be kept at a certain level, hence, nature has a way of maintaining these levels in equilibrium on the Earth.

The carbon cycle is the flow of carbon as it is recycled and reused across the biosphere, and it is also a lengthy process of carbon sequestration ( the long-term disposal or capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in order to slow or reverse atmospheric carbon dioxide pollution and to minimize or reverse climate change) and discharge from carbon sinks( any reservoir, natural or anything else, that gathers and stores carbon).

Carbon cycle diagram