Phosphorus - Helpful or Harmful?
By: Cheyenne Lawrence, Rhiannon Jones, & Madison Hartman
How the Phosphorus Cycle Works
If it rains, the water will cause the water that contains phosphorous to runoff into lakes, streams, oceans and rivers. The phosphorous settles at the bottom of the water in sedimental layers that could later cause geological upheaval when the inorganic phosphate reacts.
If more than the normal amount of phosphorus is added, then plants will grow quicker, but it would also mess up the other cycles. The different chemicals need to be balanced. When there is more phosphorus than anything else, it affects the other cycles.
Can new roads affect ecosystems?
Yes.
A human activity that would affect the cycle, could be something like building a road. There is a lot of digging involved, and when the soil is taken out of the ground, so is phosphorus, leaving plants no room to grow, and no phosphorus to help build DNA for the plants. Because the plant cannot form, organisms die.
How does deforestation affect us?
An arising problem caused by human activity
How can you help?
- Slow down on deforestation.
- Plant more trees.
- Having natural wildlife exhibits, to prevent death of animals.
- Put more flyers out recognizing the issues.
- Not use as much soil, if we must we should try to reconstruct it as best as possible.