How does phosphorus typically cycle through ecosystems?

Phosphorus typically cycles through ecosystems primarily through various biological interactions, which includes plant uptake and animal consumption. Unlike other nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus does not have a significant gaseous phase in its biochemical cycle. Instead, it exists mainly in solid form, often found in rocks and sediments.

In the terrestrial ecosystems, plants absorb phosphorus from the soil in the form of phosphate ions. When animals consume these plants, phosphorus enters their bodies, and when they excrete waste or decompose, phosphorus is returned to the soil, making it available for plants once again. This biological interplay highlights how phosphorus moves through different trophic levels in an ecosystem, emphasizing its integral role in biological processes such as DNA synthesis and energy transfer in cells.

The other options discuss aspects that do not accurately represent phosphorus cycling. Phosphorus is not primarily gaseous or stored in the atmosphere, as it lacks a significant atmospheric phase. This solid form of phosphorus makes the cycle slower compared to more dynamic cycles like that of nitrogen or carbon, which can involve rapid exchanges in gas and water forms. Thus, option C correctly captures the essence of how phosphorus circulates within ecosystems through plant and animal interactions.