How do decomposers contribute to an ecosystem?

• A. They are the top predators.
• B. They break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
• C. They eat only plants.
• D. They produce energy directly from sunlight.

Answer: (B)

Decomposers are essential for recycling nutrients in an ecosystem. They break down dead plants and animals into simpler substances, releasing minerals and nutrients back into the soil that living plants need to grow. This recycling keeps nutrients available for producers, which then feed other organisms and keep the food web going. Examples include fungi and many bacteria, which attack and decompose organic matter, returning elements like nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil.

Top predators don’t recycle nutrients; they eat other living organisms and influence populations at higher trophic levels. Decomposers don’t eat only plants—many feed on dead material from both plants and animals. They don’t produce energy from sunlight; they obtain energy by consuming dead matter, not by photosynthesis.