Over time, sedimentary rock containing phosphorus is gradually uplifted through plate tectonic activity. Follow the phosphorus molecules found in the rock through the whole phosphorus cycle, by numbering
the steps that would follow,
To get you started, Step 1 is "Weathering and erosion of the rock deposits the phosphorus into water."
1. Step 1
Aquatic plants absorb and
assimilate the dissolved phosphorus.
A fish eats aquatic plants.
2. Step 2
3. Step 3
4. Step 4
5. Step 5
Soil washes into a lake, where it
sinks to the bottom to become
sedimentary rock
Decomposition of the dead bear
releases phosphorus into the soil
The bear, after a fruitful life, dies
from old age
Weathering and erosion of the rock
deposits the phosphorus into water.
The fish is caught and eaten by a
bear
6. Step 6
7. Step 7