What term describes the process in which elements and compounds are exchanged within an ecosystem?

The term that describes the process in which elements and compounds are exchanged within an ecosystem is known as the biogeochemical cycle. This term encompasses the comprehensive pathways through which various chemical elements (such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) and compounds move through the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of the ecosystem.

Biogeochemical cycles involve the interactions between the atmosphere, lithosphere (earth), hydrosphere (water), and biosphere (living organisms). The cycles enable the recycling of vital nutrients, making them available to different organisms within the ecosystem. For instance, in the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen is fixed from the atmosphere into forms usable by plants, which are then consumed by animals, and eventually returned to the soil through decomposition.

While nutrient cycling captures the essence of the movement of nutrients, it is a broader concept that can encompass various cycles, including biogeochemical cycles. Energy flow, on the other hand, refers specifically to the one-way passage of energy through an ecosystem, from producers to consumers and eventually to decomposers. Population dynamics focuses on the changes in population sizes and the interactions among species, which are important but not directly related to the exchanges of elements and compounds. Thus, biogeochemical