The Cycles;
The cycling of major nutrients in the Arctic is majorly important to the growth and development of life and population in the Arctic, due to the fact that there is little plant life in the Arctic Tundra, leaving the consumers with little sustenance to receive energy from. The Carbon cycle in the Arctic is majorly important in that the permafrost in the Arctic consists of up to 20% of the worlds organic Carbon. The Carbon cycle begins in the Earth's atmosphere and is then absorbed by plants, which use photosynthesis to break down the carbon molecules to produce Oxygen (which is released from the plant) leaving pure organic carbon. Plants then lose this carbon as they decompose and decay into the soil. The Carbon is either turned into fossil fuels or absorbed by other plants through root respiration, with new carbon entering the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels, forest fires, or animal respiration. Since the Arctic fox is a secondary consumer and an omnivore, it is important that plants grow in the Arctic so that the Fox can receive energy and nutrients from the primary consumers who receive large amounts of carbon from plants. In the arctic soil, Phosphorous accumulates in the soils due to the fact that cold temperature prevents or inhibits microbial activity, so microorganisms store Phosphorous until the Summer, where it is then released in biomass and absorbed by Arctic plants. Phosphorous (P) is released when rocks undergo erosion, and the particles fall in a water source. Since P is soluble, it is absorbed into the water and is absorbed into plants. P is a plant nutrient that is stored in the plant until it dies, then P is released into the soil and absorbed through the roots of other plants. Other major nutrients in the arctic such as oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are also important to the Arctic Fox's survival and has had a huge impact to the adaptations of the Fox. Since the temperatures are so low in the Tundra, the air is much more dense than that of a warmer climate, meaning that the Oxygen levels are much lower. The Arctic fox has developed large nostrils in order to take in more oxygen as it breathes. Hydrogen is important to the Arctic Fox's survival in that plants utilize Hydrogen as a part of the water cycle which is necessary for plant survival. Plants are an important part of the Fox's diet in that, because the Arctic Fox is an omnivore, it will eat plants when necessary. Nitrogen in the Arctic is utilized greatly by plants as a natural fertilizer, which aid the plants growth. Due to the fact that plants are small and grow in clusters in the Arctic, plants can easily cycle Nitrogen aiding in growth, which provides more food for primary consumers allowing population to grow, adding to food for the Arctic Fox.