Trey wrote a few steps to describe how carbon circulates between the atmosphere and living organisms.

Step 1. Carbon enters the atmosphere as carbon dioxide from respiration and the burning of fossil fuels.
Step 2. Plants absorb carbon dioxide in the air and use it to make their own food using photosynthesis.
Step 3. Plant-eating animals consume the carbon stored in plants.

If step 2 is removed, which statement best describes the effects of this missing step on the carbon cycle?