Here's how:
* Plants: They take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and release oxygen as a byproduct.
* Animals and Humans: They breathe in oxygen and use it to produce energy, releasing carbon dioxide as a waste product.
This continuous exchange between plants and animals creates a balance in the atmospheric concentrations of these two gases.
It's important to note that other processes also contribute to the carbon cycle and oxygen cycle, but respiration is a crucial part of the balance.