AP Environmental Science / Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems
1.6 The Phosphorus Cycle
Notes
Phosphorus has no gas phase; its main reservoir is rock. It moves slowly through weathering.
- Often a limiting nutrient in water.
- Runoff from fertilizer and detergents can cause eutrophication.
Practice
The phosphorus cycle is slow because:
Weathering takes a long time.
Excess phosphorus in a lake often causes:
It's usually limiting.
Phosphorus enters ecosystems mainly through:
Released from minerals.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 1 test.