How would it would get out of the animal? Where would it go? Name the carbon-containing molecules and processes for each step along the way.

Question

Explain a possible path a Carbon atom might take if it began in a small animal and ended up in the stomach of a strict vegetarian.

Answer 1

Hey Gabby,

One of the shortest paths to achieve this would go something like this:

Small animal metabolizing, carbon dioxide is a waste product in the creation of glucose in animals -> Small animal exhales carbon dioxide -> Plant takes in carbon dioxide through aerobic respiration, carbon incorporate in plant body -> vegetarian eats plant

Here's the trick, plants do NOT get carbon from the soil. So saying the small animal decomposes into soil, and the plant takes it from the soil, is incorrect.

Hope this helps!

Sam