Back to The Living World: Ecosystems

Lesson PreviewLesson 4 of 11 in this unit

1.4 The Carbon Cycle

Part of The Living World: Ecosystems in AP® Environmental Science. Read the opening section, then create a free account for the full interactive lesson, practice, and progress tracking.

Start free

The carbon cycle is the movement of atoms and molecules containing the element carbon between sources and sinks. Carbon is the backbone of all organic molecules and a major greenhouse gas in the form of CO₂.

In this unit

11 lessons

  1. 1.1Introduction to EcosystemsPreview lesson
  2. 1.2Terrestrial BiomesPreview lesson
  3. 1.3Aquatic BiomesPreview lesson
  4. 1.4The Carbon CycleThis lesson
  5. 1.5The Nitrogen CyclePreview lesson
  6. 1.6The Phosphorus CyclePreview lesson
  7. 1.7The Hydrologic (Water) CyclePreview lesson
  8. 1.8Primary ProductivityPreview lesson
  9. 1.9Trophic LevelsPreview lesson
  10. 1.10Energy Flow and the 10% RulePreview lesson
  11. 1.11Food Chains and Food WebsPreview lesson

Continue the full lesson in Stellar

Create a free account to unlock the remaining sections, checkpoints, course practice, and progress tracking for AP® Environmental Science.

Start free