Concept
Version 8
Created by Boundless
The Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus cycle
In nature, phosphorus exists as the phosphate ion (PO43−). Weathering of rocks and volcanic activity releases phosphate into the soil, water, and air, where it becomes available to terrestrial food webs. Phosphate enters the oceans via surface runoff, groundwater flow, and river flow. Phosphate dissolved in ocean water cycles into marine food webs. Some phosphate from the marine food webs falls to the ocean floor, where it forms sediment.
Source
Boundless vets and curates high-quality, openly licensed content from around the Internet. This particular resource used the following sources:
"OpenStax College, Biogeochemical Cycles. October 17, 2013."
http://cnx.org/content/m44889/latest/Figure_46_03_07.jpg
OpenStax CNX
CC BY 3.0.