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Carbon Dioxide in the air is removed by plants through photosynthesis, this carbon dioxide goes towards the making of glucose. Some of this carbon is returned into the atmosphere through respiration. The glucose is used to make fats, proteins and carbohydrates in plants, when eaten, these things are transferred into the animals that ate them. The animals then respire causing Carbon Dioxide to be returned into the atmosphere. Plants and animals both die and their bodies are fed on by microorganisms. As the detritus feeders and microorganisms feed on the dead matter, they then respire causing even more carbon dioxide to be released back into the atmosphere. The Carbon cycle has remained balanced and so carbon dioxide levels have remained roughly constant for thousands of years until activity such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have led to an increase in carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere and a reduction in the amount of photosynthesis occurring leading to less carbon dioxide being taken out of the atmosphere. Since carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, this leads to a decrease in the amount of heat from leaving the Earth's atmosphere and an increase in heat being reflected back to Earth or being absorbed by the atmosphere. This leads to climate change, extreme weather due to an increase in convection currents and water vapour and rising sea levels leading to the flooding of low-lying land. This highlights the importance of maintaining the carbon cycle's balance and the effect of failing to do so.