Chris wrote a few steps to describe how carbon circulates between the ground and living organisms. Step 1. Trees absorb carbon dioxide in the air and use it to make their own food using photosynthesis.
Step 2. When plants or animals die, they are broken down by decomposers and their carbon returns to the soil.
Step 3. Carbon stays in the ground for long-term storage as fossilized carbon.

If step 1 is removed, which statement best describes the effects of this missing step on the carbon cycle?

More carbon is stored in the ground for long-term storage.
Less carbon is available for plant and animal growth.
More carbon is stored in plants instead of the ground.
There are more fossil fuels available for energy use.