What role do decomposers play in ecosystems?

• A. Decomposers break down dead material, recycling nutrients and returning them to the ecosystem.
• B. Decomposers convert solar energy into chemical energy.
• C. Decomposers store genetic information.
• D. Decomposers prevent nutrient cycling.

Answer: (A)

Decomposers are the recyclers of ecosystems. They break down dead organisms and waste, turning complex organic matter into simpler inorganic nutrients that soil and water can absorb, which plants then reuse. This nutrient recycling keeps essential elements like nitrogen and phosphorus available in the ecosystem and helps sustain plant growth and the entire food web. While decomposers do obtain energy by respiring, their main role is not capturing energy from the sun—that's the job of photosynthesizers. They do not store genetic information, and they do not prevent nutrient cycling; in fact, they enable it by returning nutrients to the environment.