In the context of biogeochemical cycles, nutrients move through an ecosystem in which of the following ways?

• A. Only within living organisms, with no exchange with the atmosphere, soil, or water
• B. Cyclic pathways that involve both living organisms (biotic) and nonliving reservoirs (abiotic)
• C. A one-way linear flow from producers to consumers that is not recycled
• D. Only through abiotic processes such as erosion and weathering, without biological involvement

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that biogeochemical cycles describe how nutrients move through ecosystems, involving both living organisms and nonliving components.
2. Recognize that nutrients are not confined only within living organisms; they also exchange with the atmosphere, soil, and water, which are abiotic reservoirs.
3. Recall that these cycles are cyclic pathways, meaning nutrients are recycled continuously rather than moving in a one-way flow.
4. Identify that both biotic (living organisms like plants, animals, microbes) and abiotic (nonliving elements like air, water, minerals) components participate in these cycles.
5. Conclude that the correct description of nutrient movement in biogeochemical cycles is cyclic pathways involving both biotic and abiotic reservoirs.