Dead organisms and waste products of living things need to be broken down so that their matter can be used again. What organisms carry out this process?

Question

* 1 point
Your answer
What would happen if those organisms did not decompose the wastes and * 1 point dead organisms?
Your answer
Look at the diagram above. What are the materials that are types of carbon * 4 points sink or long term carbon storage (these have not been decomposed).
Check all that apply.
Coal
Peat
Natural Gas
Oil
Looking at the answers above, what do we use those materials for?

Answer 1

1. What organisms carry out the process of decomposition?

   • Decomposers, such as bacteria, fungi, and detritivores (like earthworms and certain insects), are the organisms that carry out the process of decomposition.

2. What would happen if those organisms did not decompose the wastes and dead organisms?

   • If decomposers did not break down wastes and dead organisms, organic matter would accumulate in the environment, leading to nutrient depletion in ecosystems. This would disrupt food webs, hinder plant growth, and ultimately affect the overall health of the ecosystem. Additionally, without decomposition, essential nutrients would not be recycled back into the soil, impairing the growth of new plants and affecting life that relies on those plants.

3. What are the materials that are types of carbon sink or long-term carbon storage (these have not been decomposed)?

   • Check all that apply:
     • Coal
     • Peat
     • Natural Gas
     • Oil

4. What do we use those materials for?

   • Coal is primarily used for electricity generation and industrial processes. Peat is used as a soil conditioner and in horticulture. Natural gas is utilized for heating, cooking, and electricity generation, as well as serving as a raw material in chemical industries. Oil is used as fuel for transportation, heating, and also as a feedstock for producing various petrochemicals.