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The Carbon Cycle

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Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.

The Nitrogen Cycle

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling

Design and Operation of a Continuous ¹³C and ¹⁵N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling

Published on: January 16, 2014

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics during forest stand development: a global synthesis.

Yuanhe Yang¹, Yiqi Luo¹, Adrien C Finzi²

¹Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA.

The New Phytologist

|February 18, 2011

Summary

Secondary forests sequester carbon (C) in vegetation and litter, with nitrogen (N) accumulating alongside C. This indicates forests naturally prevent nitrogen limitation as they mature.

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Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling

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Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures

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Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Ecology
Forest Science
Biogeochemistry

Background:

Understanding carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in secondary forests is vital for assessing their role in the global C cycle.
Long-term C-N interactions in terrestrial ecosystems require comprehensive analysis of forest stand development.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize findings from over 100 studies on C and N dynamics during forest stand development.
To clarify the patterns and relationships of C and N accumulation across forest ages.

Main Methods:

Meta-analysis of existing research on forest C and N dynamics.
Examination of C and N pool changes across different stand ages.

Main Results:

Carbon (C) accumulated significantly in aboveground vegetation, litter, and forest floor pools.
Mineral soil C pools showed no significant changes in most cases.
Nitrogen (N) also accrued in ecosystem components, excluding mineral soil, with changes linearly related to C changes.
The rate of C accumulation decreased with stand age, approaching equilibrium in later stages.

Conclusions:

Forest stand development leads to substantial increases in C pools, accompanied by N accretion.
Concurrent C and N dynamics suggest an intrinsic capacity in forest ecosystems to avoid progressive N limitation.
These findings highlight the importance of secondary forests in terrestrial C sequestration and ecosystem stability.