Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that cycles through ecosystems. It is found in rocks, soils, plants, and animal tissues. While it does not cycle through the atmosphere like carbon and nitrogen, phosphorus moves between non-living and living components of ecosystems. Excess phosphorus from farms, lawns, and golf courses can cause algal blooms that disrupt aquatic environments. Known global reserves of phosphate may be depleted by 2060 if consumption continues at the current rate. The phosphorus cycle involves uptake by plants from soils and waters, consumption by animals, and return to non-living components through decomposition or waste.