Nutrient cycling.

  1. Living organisms accumulate organic materials, yielding detritus.

  2. After death, some organic matter become fossilized and cycle very slowly under natural conditions.

  3. Fossil fuels can be extracted, and together with detritus cycled back into the abiotic components of ecosystems.

  4. Rocks release minerals slowly to ecosystems.

Activity: Energy Flow and Chemical Cycling Review: