Methanogenic archaea are, hence, at the end of the carbon cycle, with carbon being released back into the atmosphere after having been fixed by photosynthesis.
mˌɛθɐnoʊdʒˈɛnɪk ɑːɹkˈiə ɑːɹ, hˈɛns, æt ðɪ ˈɛnd ʌvðə kˈɑːɹbən sˈaɪkəl, wɪð kˈɑːɹbən bˌiːɪŋ ɹᵻlˈiːst bˈæk ˌɪntʊ ðɪ ˈætməsfˌɪɹ ˈæftɚ hˌævɪŋ bˌɪn fˈɪkst baɪ fˌoʊɾoʊsˈɪnθəsˌɪs.