Final answer:
If dead bodies did not decay, the ecosystem's nutrient cycle would be disrupted due to the accumulation of waste materials and the consequent nutrient depletion in the environment, adversely affecting all living organisms within the ecosystem.
Step-by-step explanation:
if dead bodies of animals and human beings did not rot or decay is option c) The ecosystem's nutrient cycle would be disrupted.
Without decay, key components of the nutrient cycle would be interrupted since decomposers such as bacteria and fungi play a crucial role in breaking down dead matter and recycling it back into the ecosystem. This recycling process is vital to provide nutrients for producers, like plants, which are the foundation of food webs.
Decomposition also assists in carbon and nitrogen cycling, which are essential for the growth and function of living organisms. The absence of decomposers would lead to the accumulation of waste and dead materials, causing a depletion of nutrients in the soil and thereby hampering the growth of producers. Consequently, the entire food web would be affected, as herbivores and carnivores alike depend on producers for sustenance. Additionally, the lack of decomposition would drastically reduce the availability of key elements like carbon and nitrogen, which are necessary for forming the organic compounds within cells.
If dead bodies of animals and human beings do not rot or decay, it would disrupt the ecosystem's nutrient cycle. Decomposers play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter and releasing nutrients back into the environment. Without decomposition, the nutrients within the dead bodies would not be recycled, resulting in a shortage of nutrients for producers to grow. This would ultimately impact the entire food web and the balance of the ecosystem.