Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle Models Quick Check

Question

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Question
What happens to carbon in plants when the plants die?(1 point)
Responses

The carbon stays in the plants' bodies, which do not decompose.
The carbon stays in the plants' bodies, which do not decompose.

The carbon is converted into rocks.
The carbon is converted into rocks.

The carbon is released into the environment.
The carbon is released into the environment.

The carbon disappears during decomposition.
The carbon disappears during decomposition.
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Answer 1

The correct response is:

The carbon is released into the environment.

When plants die, the carbon stored in their bodies is released back into the environment through decomposition, where it can be taken up by soil, released as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, or used by other organisms.