The global circulation of phosphorus from the environment to living organisms and back to the environment 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 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 Once on land, these minerals are available for the roots of plants to absorb