Question

Consumers, or heterotrophs, take in food made by other organisms. Then they break apart the food to release its energy. How do these actions of consumers contribute to the carbon cycle?a.Eating and breaking apart food converts carbon to other elements.b.Eating and breaking apart food converts other elements into carbon.c.Eating food involves taking up carbon dioxide.d.Eating and breaking apart food releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option (D) Eating and breaking apart food releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle showing the cyclic movement of carbon compounds in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and the biosphere of the earth. Plants or the producers use the atmospheric carbon dioxide for the process of photosynthesis. The organic compounds synthesized by the plants are used for the purpose of nutrition by the heterotrophs or the consumers. These organic compounds are broken down by the process of respiration releasing water, energy and the byproduct carbon dioxide back to the atmosphere contibuting to the carbon cycle.
`C_(6) H_(12) O_(6) + 6O_(2)forms6CO_(2) + 6H_(2)O + Energy.`.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: d.Eating and breaking apart food releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Heterotrophs consume organic molecules and break them apart. Throug the catabolic processes of such as respiration simple organic molecules like glucose react with oxygen yielding water and CO2, returning carbon to the atmosphere in inorganic form and completing the carbon cycle.