Question

The cycling of carbon throughout the environment is critical to ensuring the survival of all organisms. Suppose a mountain lion kills a deer in the forest.

A mountain lion standing on rocks near water.

Photo by US Department of Agriculture

What would likely happen first to the carbon in the deer carcass as it lies on the forest floor after the mountain lion has finished feeding on it?
a.
It would be incorporated into other organisms.
b.
It would be released back into the atmosphere.
c.
It would be turned into coal.
d.
It would be incorporated into the soil.



Please select the best answer from the choices provided


A
B
C
D

Answer 1

B

Decomposers (bacteria, fungi, and detritivores) rapidly break down the carcass, respiring organic carbon as CO2 back into the atmosphere. Some carbon is also taken up by decomposers or becomes soil organic matter later, but release as CO2 happens first.