AP BIOLOGY

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ECOLOGY

ENERGY FLOW AND THE FOOD CHAIN

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
In addition to producers and consumers, there are decomposers. Bacteria and fungi are decomposers. They eat decaying matter (dead plants and animals) and in the process, they break them down or decompose them.Most animals are part of more than one food chain. There are lots of different food chains and all together these form a food web. A food web is a map that shows how all living things are connected.Which of these is an example of a decomposer at work?
A
A tree dies in the forest and organisms break down the wood until it’s gone.
B
A bear needs lots of nutrients in the summer so that it can hibernate all winter.
C
A person eats a sandwich and throws away the scraps.
D
A little fish eats plankton and then a bigger fish eats the little fish.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi break down organic remains of plants/animals and add them to the soil. So, they are called decomposers.

Detailed explanation-2: -Producers use energy and inorganic molecules to make food. Consumers take in food by eating producers or other living things. Decomposers break down dead organisms and other organic wastes and release inorganic molecules back to the environment.

Detailed explanation-3: -Consumers interact with producers by eating them as well as other consumers in order to gain this energy. Decomposers break down dead and decaying producers and consumers in order to absorb their nutrients and gain energy as well.

Detailed explanation-4: -Decomposers play a critical role in the flow of energy through an ecosystem. They break apart dead organisms into simpler inorganic materials, making nutrients available to primary producers.

There is 1 question to complete.
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