What is a bio-geochemical cycle?

The ecosystem obtains nutrients from outside sources and stores them for use in biological processes. The nutrients are then used for the growth and development of organisms. The cyclic flow of nutrients maintains the balance in the natural pool and keeps the nutrients cycle relatively balanced. Ecological disturbances cause the cycles of nutrients to become unbalanced. The nutrients that are deposited in the organisms are released through the process of decomposition by the microscopic organisms. These nutrients are then stored in soil for later use. The plants take up the stored nutrients from the soil and use them for growth and development. The animals receive the nutrients from plants, which they use for their own growth and development. The organisms that are released after they die and decay release the nutrients back into the ecosystem.

A biogeochemical cycle is a pathway through which chemical elements or molecules move through the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of an ecosystem. These cycles involve processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and geological processes. Examples include the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle, and water cycle.