II PUC BIOLOGY ECOSYSTEM

Weightage in Board-6m
Chapter: 14 No. of questions in NEET-3
ECOSYSTEM
Important Definitions:
 Ecosystem: The Scientific study of the Interactions between organisms and the
environment. It is the functional unit of nature.
 Abiotic: The non living components of ecosystem (ex. Temp, light, water,
nutrients).
 Biotic: The living organisms of ecosystem (called biota).
 Stratification: Vertical distribution of different species occupying different
levels.
 Primary production: It is defined the amount of biomass or organic matter
produced per unit area over time period by plants during photosynthesis
 Gross primary productivity: It the rate of production of organic matter during
photosynthesis.
 Net primary productivity: Gross primary productivity minus respiration loss.
 Secondary productivity: The rate of formation of new organic matter by
consumers.
 Decomposition: Breakdown of complex organic matter into inorganic
substances like carbon dioxide, water & nutrients and the process is called
decomposition.
 Detritus: Dead plant remains such as leaves, bark flowers and dead remains of
animals, including fecal matter, constitute detritus.
 Detritivores: Organisms that breakdown detritus into smaller particles.
 Fragmentation: The process of breakdown of detritus into smaller particles by
detritivores.
 Leaching: Process of water soluble inorganic nutrients goes down into the soil
horizon and gets precipitated as unavailable salts.
 Catabolism: It is the degradation of detritus into simpler inorganic substances
by the enzymes of bacteria and fungi.
 Humification: It is the formation humic substances.
 Humus: It is the dark coloured amorphous substance that is highly resistant
to microbial action undergoes decomposition at an extremely slow rate.
 Mineralization: It is the release of inorganic nutrients in to the soil by further
degradation of humus by some microbes.
 Photosynthetic active radiations (PAR): PAR is the amount of light available
for photosynthesis, which is light available in the 400 to 700 nanometer
wavelength range.
 Producers: These are the photosynthetic organisms which synthesize the food
utilizing sun light.

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 Herbivores: Animals which depend on plants for their food.

 Primary carnivores: Animals which depend on herbivores for their food.
 Secondary carnivores: Animals which depend on primary carnivores for their
food.
 Decomposers/Saprophytes: These are the microbes like bacteria and fungi
which decompose dead bodies of producers and consumers.
 Trophic level: It is a position occupied by an organism in a food chain.
 Food chain: The sequence of eating and being eaten in ecosystem is known as
food chain.
 Grazing food chain: Energy for food chain comes from sun.
 Detritus food chain: Energy for food chain comes from detritus.
 Food web: Interconnection of various food chains in an ecosystem.
 10% law of energy transfer: The 10% law of energy states that only 10 percent
of the energy is transferred to each trophic level from the lower trophic level.
 Standing crop: It is certain mass of living material present in each trophic level
at a particular time.
 Biomass: Mass of living organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time.
 Ecological pyramid: Graphic representation of an ecological parameter in
various trophic level of a food chain with producers at base and top carnivores
at the tip.
 Ecological succession: The gradual and fairly predictable change in the species
composition of a given area.
 Pioneer species: The species that invade bare area.
 Sere: The entire sequence of communities that successively change in a given
area.
 Seral communities: The individual transitional communities are termed as
seral stages.
 Climax communities: The final community that establishes equilibrium with
the environment.
 Primary succession: The succession that occurs for the first time in an area
where the living organism ever existed.
 Secondary succession: The succession that occurs in the areas which have
lost all no living organisms that existed there.
 Hydrarch succession: Succession takes place in wetter areas and the
successional series progress from hydric to mesic conditions.
 Xerarch succession: Plant succession starting on bare ground or rock leading
to a climax forest.
 Standing state: The amount of nutrient present in the soil at any given time.
 Nutrient/Biogeochemical cycling: The movement of nutrient element through
the various components of an ecosystem.
 Gaseous cycle: The reservoir for gaseous type of nutrient cycle exists in the
atmosphere. Ex Nitrogen, Carbon cycle.
 Sedimentary cycle: The reservoir for the sedimentary cycle is located in earth's
crust. Ex: Sulphur, Phosphorus Cycle.
 Ecosystem services: The products of ecosystem processes.

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REVISION NOTES

An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature consisting of biotic and abiotic

factors, where the living organisms interact among themselves and also with their
physical environment (abiotic factors).

 Many ecologists regard the entire biosphere as a global ecosystem, as composite

of all local ecosystems on Earth. Ecosystem has been divided into following
types:
• Terrestrial ecosystem: Forest, grassland, desert etc.
• Aquatic ecosystem: Pond, lake, wetland, river & estuary.
• Man-made ecosystem: Crop fields and aquarium.
 Entire biosphere is regarded as global ecosystem.

Ecosystem – Structure and Function

 The interaction of biotic and abiotic components results in a physical structure
characteristic of each type of ecosystem.
 The two important structural features of an ecosystem are:
(i) Species composition : Species composition refers to all the plant, animal
and microbial species present in the given ecosystem.
(ii) Stratification : Stratification refers to the vertical distribution of different
species occupying different levels in the ecosystem; for example, trees occupy
top vertical layer of a forest, shrubs occupy the second layer and herbs and
grasses occupy the bottom layers.
Pond (Aquatic ecosystem)
 A pond is a shallow, simple, self-sustainable water body that exhibits all basic
components of an ecosystem.
• Abiotic components: Water and soil deposit.
• Climatic conditions: Solar input, cycle of temperature, day-length etc.
• Autotrophic components: Phytoplankton, some algae and the floating,
submerged and marginal plants.
• Consumers (heterotrophs): Zooplankton, free swimming and bottom
dwelling forms.
• Decomposers: Fungi, bacteria and flagellates.
 Pond performs all the functions of an ecosystem such as
 Conversion of inorganic into organic material using solar radiant energy by
the autotrophs.
 Consumption of the autotrophs by heterotrophs.
 Decomposition and mineralization of the dead matter to release them back
for reuse by the autotrophs.
 The major functions of any ecosystem are:
(i) Productivity (ii) Decomposition (iii) Energy flow (iv) Nutrient cycling.
PRODUCTIVITY:

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 Solar energy is the basic requirement for an ecosystem to function and sustain.
 Primary production is defined as amount of biomass (organic matter)
produced per unit area over a time period by plants during photosynthesis. It is
expressed in weight (g–2) or energy (kcal m–2).
 The rate of biomass production is called productivity. It is expressed in g–2 yr–
1 or (kcal m–2) yr–1.
 It is divided into gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity
(NPP).
Gross primary productivity (GPP): It is the rate of production of organic matter
during photosynthesis. A considerable amount of GPP is utilized by plants in
respiration.
Net primary productivity (NPP): It is the available biomass for the
consumption to heterotrophs (herbivores & decomposers). i.e., NPP is the Gross
primary productivity minus respiration losses (R).
NPP = GPP – R
 Primary productivity varies in different ecosystems because it depends on
 The plant species inhabiting a particular area
 Environmental factors
 Availability of nutrients
 Photosynthetic capacity of plants
 Annual net primary productivity of whole biosphere is about 170 billion tons
(dry weight) of organic matter. Of this, despite occupying about 70 % of the
surface, the productivity of the oceans is only 55 billion tons.
 Secondary productivity: It is the rate of formation of new organic matter by
consumers.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS:

1. List two basic or fundamental categories of ecosystems on earth with an example for
each. (2)
2. Mention the four primary functions of an ecosystem. (2)
3. Define productivity and mention its types. (2)
4. Distinguish between primary productivity and secondary productivity. (2)
5. Distinguish between gross primary productivity and net primary productivity (2)
6. Describe the components of an aquatic ecosystem taking pond as an example. (3)

DECOMPOSITION
 It is the breakdown of complex organic matter by decomposers into inorganic
substances like CO2, water and nutrients.
 It is largely an oxygen-requiring process.
 Raw material for decomposition is called Detritus. E.g. dead plant remains
(leaves, bark, flowers etc.), dead remains of animals, fecal matter etc.
Steps of decomposition
a. Fragmentation: It is the breakdown of detritus into smaller particles by
detritivores (e.g. earthworm).
b. Leaching: Water soluble inorganic nutrients go down into soil horizon and

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precipitate as unavailable salts.

c. Catabolism: Degradation of detritus into simpler inorganic substances by
bacterial and fungal enzymes. The above three processes occur
simultaneously.
d. Humification: Accumulation of humus (dark amorphous substance) in soil.
Humus is resistant to microbial action and so decomposes very slowly. Being
colloidal in nature it serves as a reservoir of nutrients.
e. Mineralization: It is the release of inorganic nutrients due to the degradation
of humus by some microbes.
Factors influencing decomposition
• Chemical composition of detritus: Decomposition rate is slower in detritus
rich in lignin & chitin. It is quicker, if detritus is rich in nitrogen and water-
soluble substances like sugars.
• Climatic factors (temperature & soil moisture): Warm and moist
environment favour decomposition. Low temperature and anaerobiosis
inhibit decomposition resulting in buildup of organic materials.

ENERGY FLOW
 Sun is the only source of energy for all ecosystems (except deep sea hydro-
thermal ecosystem).
 Of the incident solar radiation, less than 50% is Photosynthetically Active
Radiation (PAR).
 Plants and photosynthetic & chemosynthetic bacteria (autotrophs), fix solar
radiant energy to make food.
 Plants capture only 2-10% of the PAR. This energy sustains the entire living
world.
 The flow of energy from the sun to producers and then to consumer is
unidirectional and is keeping with the first law of thermodynamics.
 In an ecosystem, energy is transferred in the form of food and it leads to
degradation and loss of a major part of food energy as heat during metabolic
activities and a very small fraction becomes stored as biomass; this is keeping
with the second law of thermodynamics.
[ or Ecosystems obey 2nd Law of thermodynamics. They need a constant supply
of energy to synthesize the molecules. It helps to counteract the entropy.]
Producers (Autotrophs):
 These are organisms that synthesize food.
 In a terrestrial ecosystem, major producers are herbaceous and woody plants.
Primary producers in an aquatic ecosystem are phytoplankton, algae and higher
plants.
 The energy trapped by the producer is either passed on to a consumer or the
organism dies.
Consumers (heterotrophs):
 These are animals that directly or indirectly depend on plants for food. They
include:
 Primary consumers (herbivores): Feed on plants. E.g. insects, birds,
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mammals, molluscs etc.

 Secondary consumers (primary carnivores): Feed on herbivores. E.g. frog,
fox, man etc.
 Tertiary consumers (secondary carnivores): Feed on primary carnivores.
E.g. tiger, lion etc.
 Food chain: The chain of feeding relationship between different organisms is
called a food chain. It is 2 types:
• Grazing Food Chain (GFC): Here, primary consumer feeds on living plants
(producer). E.g.
Grass ------ Goat ----- Man
(producer) (primary consumer) (secondary consumer)
 A specific place of organisms in the food chain is known as their trophic level.
• Detritus Food Chain (DFC): Here, primary consumer feeds on dead organic

matter (detritus). Death of organism is the beginning of the DFC.

Detritus is made up of decomposers (saprotrophs) such as fungi & bacteria.
They secrete digestive enzymes that breakdown detritus into simple, inorganic
materials, which are absorbed by them. Thus, they get energy & nutrients.
 In an aquatic ecosystem, GFC is the major conduit for energy flow.
 In a terrestrial ecosystem, a much amount of energy flows through the DFC
than through the GFC.
 DFC may be connected with GFC at some levels. Some organisms of DFC are
prey to the GFC animals. Some animals (cockroaches, crows etc.) are omnivores.
Such interconnections of food chains make a food web.
 Food web: The network of interconnected food chains at different trophic levels
in a biotic community is termed as food web.
 The amount of energy decreases at successive trophic levels. When an organism
dies it becomes dead biomass (detritus). It is an energy source for
decomposers.
 Organisms at each trophic level depend on those at the lower trophic level for

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their energy.
 Each trophic level has a certain mass of living material at a particular time
called as the standing crop. It is measured as the biomass (mass of living
organisms) or the number in a unit area.
 Biomass of a species is expressed in terms of fresh or dry weight. It is more
accurate measurement.
 Number of trophic levels in GFC is restricted as it follows 10% law (only 10% of
energy is transferred to each trophic level from the lower trophic level).

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS:

1. Mention two conditions which increase the rate of decomposition in ecosystem. (2)
2. Mention two conditions which decrease the rate of decomposition in ecosystem. (2)
3. Show schematic representation of grazing food chain (GFC). (2)
4. Distinguish between food chain and food web.
5. Explain the factors that regulate decomposition.
6. Define food chain. Mention the types of food chain. (3)
7. Show diagrammatic representation of different trophic levels in an ecosystem. (3)
8. Describe the various steps involved in the process of decomposition. (5)

ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
 The representation of a food chain in the form of a pyramid is called ecological
pyramid.
 The base of a pyramid represents producers (first trophic level). The apex
represents tertiary or top level consumer.
 Ecological pyramids are 3 types: Pyramid of number, Pyramid of biomass and
Pyramid of energy.
a) Pyramid of number: Pyramid of number may be upright or inverted.
Upright: E.g. grassland ecosystem.

Inverted: E.g. Insects feeding on a big tree

b) Pyramid of biomass: Pyramid of biomass may be upright or inverted.

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Upright: It shows a sharp decrease in biomass at higher trophic levels.

Inverted pyramid of biomass: Small standing crop of phytoplankton supports

large standing crop of zooplankton.

Another example: Pyramid of biomass in sea is inverted because the biomass of

fishes far exceeds that of phytoplankton.
c) Pyramid of energy: Primary producers convert only 1% of the energy in the
sunlight available to them into NPP.
 Pyramid of energy is always upright, because when energy flows from a trophic
level to the next trophic level, some energy is always lost as heat at each step.
 Each bar in the energy pyramid indicates the amount of energy present at each
trophic level in a given time or annually per unit area.

 Any calculations of energy content, biomass, or numbers has to include all

organisms at that trophic level.
 The trophic level represents a functional level, not a species as such. A given
species may occupy more than one trophic level in the same ecosystem at the
same time. E.g. A sparrow is a primary consumer when it eats seeds, fruits,
peas. It is a secondary consumer when it eats insects & worms.
 In most ecosystems, all the pyramids are upright, i.e., producers are more in

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number and biomass than the herbivores, and herbivores are more in number
and biomass than the carnivores. Also, energy at a lower trophic level is always
more than at a higher level.
Limitations of ecological pyramids:
 It does not consider the same species belonging to two or more trophic levels.
 It assumes a simple food chain that almost never exists in nature; it does not
accommodate a food web.
 Saprophytes are not included in ecological pyramids even though they play a
vital role in the ecosystem.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS:

1. ‘Ecological pyramids have limitations’. Justify with reasons.
2. What are ecological pyramids? Mention any two types.
3. Write the diagrammatic representation of pyramid of number in a grassland ecosystem
with appropriate units.
4. Write diagrammatic representation of an erect pyramid of biomass with appropriate
units.
5. Write the diagrammatic representation of pyramid of energy with appropriate units.
6. Why is pyramid of energy always upright and can never be inverted?
7. Why pyramid of biomass in sea generally inverted?

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
 It is a gradual, slow and predictable change in the species composition of an
area leading to a climax community (community that is in equilibrium with
the environment).
 In this, some species colonize an area and increase in number, whereas other
species decline and disappear.
 The entire sequences of communities that successively change in an area are
called sere. Individual transitional communities are termed seral stages (seral
communities).
 In the successive seral stages there is a change in species diversity, increase in
number of species and organisms and an increase in the total biomass.
 The present-day communities are due to succession of millions of years.
Succession and evolution would have been parallel processes at that time.
 Succession is 2 types:
Primary succession: The succession taking place in areas where no living
organisms ever existed. E.g. newly cooled lava, bare rock, newly created pond
or reservoir. Before a biotic community is established, there must be formation
of fertile soil through natural processes. So the primary succession is a very
slow process.
Secondary succession: The succession taking place in an area after the existed
organisms are lost. E.g. abandoned farm lands, burned or cut forests, lands
that are flooded. Since some soil or sediment is present, succession is faster
than primary succession. The species that invade depend on the condition of
the soil, availability of water etc.

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 In succession, changes in vegetation affect food & shelter of animals. Thus, as

succession proceeds, the number and types of animals & decomposers also
change.
 Natural or human induced disturbances (deforestation, fire etc.) convert a
particular seral stage to an earlier stage. They create new conditions that
encourage some species and discourage or eliminate other species.
Succession of Plants
 Based on the nature of the habitat, succession of plants is 2 types: hydrarch
and xerarch.
1. Xerarch Succession: Xerarch succession takes place in dry or xeric conditions
(bare rocks) and progresses from xeric to mesic conditions. The stages in Xerarch
succession are as follows:
a. The species that invade a bare area are called pioneer species. In primary
succession on rocks these are usually lichens which are able to secrete acids
to dissolve rock, helping in weathering and soil formation.
b. These later pave way to some very small plants like bryophytes, which are able
to take hold in the small amount of soil.
c. They are, with time, succeeded by bigger plants, and after several more stages,
ultimately a stable climax forest community is formed.
d. The climax community remains stable as long as the environment remains
unchanged.
e. With time the xerophytic habitat gets converted into a mesophytic one.

2. Hydrarch Succession: Hydrarch succession takes place in water bodies or wet

areas and the succession progresses from hydric to mesic conditions. The stages
in Hydrarch succession are as follows:

a. In primary succession in water, the pioneers are the small phytoplanktons,

they are replaced with time by free-floating angiosperms, then by rooted
hydrophytes, grasses and finally the trees.

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b. The climax again would be a forest. With time the water body is converted
into land.

Note:
 In secondary succession, the type of pioneer species depends on the following:
(i) Condition of the soil (ii) Availability of water
(iii) Environmental conditions (iv) Seeds/other propagules present.
 The two general facts about succession are:
(a) Primary succession is a very slow process that may take thousands of years
for the establishment of climax community.
(b) All successions, hydrarch or xerarch, lead to establishment of similar climax
community, the mesic community. i.e. medium water conditions, neither too
dry (Xeric) nor too wet (Hydric).
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS:
1. Define ecological succession.
2. Differentiate primary and secondary ecological successions.
3. Why the rate of primary succession is slower but that of secondary succession is faster?
4. Describe ecological succession on bare rock and in water.
5. With reference to ecological succession, define the following: (a) Sere (b) Pioneer species
(c) Climax community.
6. What are pioneer species?
7. What is climax community?
8. What is standing crop?
9. State 10% law.

NUTRIENT CYCLING
 The amount of nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium etc.
present in the soil at any given time, is referred to as the standing state. It
varies in different kinds of ecosystems and also on a seasonal basis.
 Nutrients are never lost from the ecosystems. They are recycled again and again.
The movement of nutrient elements through various components of an
ecosystem is called nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles).
 Nutrient cycles are 2 types:
a. Gaseous cycle: For this, the reservoir exists in the atmosphere. E.g. Nitrogen
& Carbon cycles.
b. Sedimentary cycle: For this, the reservoir is located in Earth’s crust. E.g.

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Sulphur & Phosphorus cycles.

 Environmental factors (soil, moisture, pH, temperature, etc.) regulate the rate
of release of nutrients into the atmosphere. The reservoir meets with the deficit
of nutrients due to imbalance in the rate of influx and efflux.

Carbon Cycle.
 Reservoir of carbon: Atmosphere (about 1%), organisms (49% of dry weight),
oceans (71% dissolved carbon. It regulates the amount of atmospheric CO2),
fossil fuel etc.
 Carbon cycling occurs through atmosphere, ocean and through living and dead
organisms.
 4×1013 kg of carbon is fixed in the biosphere through photosynthesis annually.
 A major amount of carbon returns to the atmosphere as CO2 through
respiration.
 Processing of wastes & dead organic matter by decomposers also release CO2.
 Some amount of the fixed carbon is lost to sediments and removed from
circulation.
 Burning of wood, forest fire and combustion of organic matter, fossil fuel and
volcanic activity are other sources for releasing CO2 in the atmosphere.
 Role of human activities in carbon cycle: Deforestation, burning of fossil fuel
etc. has increased the rate of release of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Phosphorus Cycle
 Phosphorus is a constituent of biological membranes, nucleic acids & cellular
energy transfer systems. Many animals use phosphorus to make shells, bones
and teeth.
 The natural reservoir of phosphorus is rock (in the form of phosphates).
 When rocks are weathered, minute amounts of phosphates dissolve in soil
solution and are absorbed by the plants. Herbivores and other animals obtain

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this from plants. The waste products and the dead organisms are decomposed
by phosphate-solubilising bacteria releasing phosphorus.
Differences between carbon and phosphorous cycles
Carbon cycle Phosphorous cycle
Atmospheric input is higher Much smaller
There is gaseous exchange b/w Gaseous exchange is negligible
organism & environment

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
 Healthy ecosystems are the base for a wide range of economic, environmental
and aesthetic goods and services, the products of ecosystem processes are
named as ecosystem services.
 The following services are provided by forests, they:
(i) purify air
(ii) mitigate droughts and floods
(iii) help in cycling of nutrients
(iv) provide habitat to a number of wild life.
(v) act as storehouse of carbon
(vi) influence the hydrological cycle
(vii)maintain biodiversity
(viii) provide aesthetic, cultural & spiritual values. –
 Robert Constanza and his colleagues have tried to put price tags on nature’s
life-support services.
 Researchers have put an average price tag of US $ 33 trillion a year on
fundamental ecosystems services. This is nearly twice the value of the global
gross national product GNP (US $ 18 trillion).
 Out of this total cost, soil formation accounts for about 50%.
 Contributions of other services like recreation & nutrient cycling are less than
10% each.
 The cost of climate regulation and habitat for wildlife are about 6 % each.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS:

1. Differentiate standing crop and standing state.
2. Compare gaseous and sedimentary cycles.
3. List two differences between carbon cycle and phosphorous cycle.
4. What is biogeochemical cycle? Mention the types of biogeochemical cycles with an
example for each.
5. Compare gaseous and sedimentary cycles with an example for each
6. Explain carbon cycle in the biosphere.
7. Explain phosphorous cycle with a schematic representation.

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YEAR QUESTIONS MARKS

March 1.a)Draw an ideal pyramid of energy and mention the units. 2
2014 b) What is an ecological succession.
2.a)Distinguish between primary productivity and 1
2
secondary productivity of an ecosystem.
1
b) Define food web.
July 1. Give an example of gaseous cycle. 1
2014 2. Define ecological pyramid. Describe pyramid of energy 5
flow with an example.
March 1. What is detritus? 1
2015 2. a) What is ecological succession? 1
b) Represent an ideal pyramid of number in a grassland 2
ecosystem.

c) Name the two types of nutrient cycles with an example 2

each.
July 1. Name the pioneer species in primary succession on rocks 2
2015 and primary succession in water.
2. Explain the important steps involved in the process of 5
decomposition.
March 1. What is ecological succession? Distinguish between 3
2016 primary succession and secondary succession.
2. With reference to ecological succession define the 3
following terms. a) Climax community b) sere(s) c)
pioneer species.
July 1. What are biogeochemical cycle? Mention two types by 3
2016 giving an example for each.
2. Write the diagrammatic representation of pyramid of 3
energy.
March 1. Give an example for gaseous cycle. 1
2017 2. a)What is ecological succession? 1
b) Write types of plant succession. 2
c) Represent pyramid of number in grassland ecosystem.
2
July 1. a) Mention the functional components of an ecosystem. 2
2017 b) What is tropic level? 1
2. Write the schematic representation of phosphorus cycle. 3
March 1. Write a short note on ecosystem services. 3
2018 2. What is ecological succession? How Hydrarch succession 3
is different from Xerarch succession
July 1. What are ecological pyramids? Draw an ideal pyramid of 3
2018 energy and mention its units. 3
2. Describe the process of primary succession on bare rocks

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March 1. Name the type of food chain i.e the major conduit for 1
2019 energy flow in an aquatic eco system.
2. Ecological pyramids have limitations. Justify the 3
statement with three reasons.
3. Describe three factors which affect on decomposition. 3
July 1. a) What are pioneer species in ecological succession? 1
2019 b) Distinguish between hydrarch and xerarch succession. 2
2. Schematically represent phosphorous cycle. 3
March 1. What are pioneer species? 1
2020 2. Schematically represent phosphorous cycle. 3
3. What is ecological succession? How hydrarch succession 3
is different from that of xerarch succession?
Sept 1. What is standing crop ? 1
2020 2. Name the pioneer species of xerarch and hydrarch succession. 2
3. Write the schematic representation of phosphorous cycle.
3

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