How do animals and fungi participate in the carbon cycle?

Answer 1

Animals participate in the carbon cycle when they eat plants or each other. They digest the organic carbon compounds (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) and reform them into compounds for their own bodies. The also release carbon dioxide in the process of cellular respiration of glucose, the ultimate breakdown product of carbohydrates. When they defecate or die, fungi consume that organic carbon and break it down into inorganic compounds that can be used by plants to grow. Decomposition is another example of aerobic cellular respiration, so they also release carbon dioxide.

Answer 2

Animals draw carbon from the environment and convert it into body tissues. Some animals also convert carbon compounds into hard body parts. When plants and animals die, fungi (and bacteria) are responsible for breaking down the carbon compounds in their tissues and releasing them back into the environment as carbon dioxide or methane.