Question

use your understanding of the phosphorus cycle to answer the questions provided. phosphorus cycles between living things and the soil. complete identify the steps of the phosphorus cycle described. step 1 has been identified for you. step 1: plants absorb phosphates in the soil and turn them into organic compounds through assimilation. animals eat these plants and pass the phosphorus through the food chain. an animal dies and decays, returning the phosphorus to the soil, and the cycle repeats. done

Explanation:

To identify the steps of the phosphorus cycle:

1. After Step 1 (plants absorb phosphates and make organic compounds), the next logical step is animals consuming these plants to pass phosphorus through the food chain (this is Step 2 as it's about transfer via consumption).
2. Then, when an animal dies and decays, phosphorus is returned to the soil (this is Step 3, completing the cycle as it recycles phosphorus back to the soil for plants to absorb again).

For the drop - down (assuming the first drop - down after Step 1 was for Step 2 and the next for Step 3):

• The step "Animals eat these plants and pass the phosphorus through the food chain" is Step 2.
• The step "An animal dies and decays, returning the phosphorus to the soil, and the cycle repeats" is Step 3.

Answer:

• For the first (after Step 1) dropdown (Step 2): Animals eat these plants and pass the phosphorus through the food chain (already marked as correct in the image, but for the second dropdown (Step 3)): An animal dies and decays, returning the phosphorus to the soil, and the cycle repeats.