Question

What might happen to the carbon cycle if

dead organisms did not break down?
A)Bacteria would begin fixing carbon
dioxide and adding it to the soil.
B)Carbon would not be recycled and
added to soil, interrupting the cycle.
C)More carbon dioxide would be available
for photosynthesis.
D)Other sources of carbon would need to
be found to keep carbon in the cycle.

Answer 1

Answer B is correct; if dead organisms did not decompose, carbon would not be recycled, leading to an interruption in the carbon cycle and potentially causing ecosystem collapse due to the lack of available nutrients.

Step-by-step explanation:

If dead organisms did not break down, it would result in carbon not being recycled and added to the soil, thereby interrupting the carbon cycle. In this scenario, the correct answer is B) Carbon would not be recycled and added to soil, interrupting the cycle. Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi play a critical role by carrying out the decomposition of dead plants and animals, thus releasing carbon in the form of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere through respiration. If decomposition were to halt, organic materials from dead organisms would accumulate, leading to a pile-up of wastes and an interruption in nutrient cycling. This would directly affect the availability of nutrients for producers, and subsequently, consumers might be deprived of the necessary carbon compounds they rely on.

Answer 2

A is the correct answer.