Final answer:
The correct statement about the carbon cycle is that carbon is cycled through both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems. It consists of two sub-cycles: one for rapid exchange among living organisms and the other for long-term geologic processes. The carbon cycle is essential for life and involves various carbon reservoirs.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing the transfer and transformation of matter as it cycles through ecosystems, specifically the carbon cycle, it is clear that option c) "Carbon is cycled through biotic and abiotic components" is the correct statement. The carbon cycle involves the movement of carbon through land, water, and air, connecting living organisms (biotic components) with non-living elements (abiotic components) of ecosystems, such as the atmosphere and oceans. Carbon is taken in by plants during photosynthesis and released back into the atmosphere through respiration, decomposition, and human activities like the burning of fossil fuels.
The entire carbon cycle can be considered as two interconnected sub-cycles: one that deals with the rapid exchange of carbon among living organisms, and another that encompasses the long-term cycling of carbon through geologic processes. Carbon reservoirs or sinks include the atmosphere, bodies of liquid water, ocean sediment, soil, land sediments, and the Earth's interior. The cycle is crucial for maintaining the balance of carbon in the ecosystem, as it is a key component of all known life.