What is the role of decomposers in ecosystems?

• A. They produce energy from sunlight
• B. They recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter
• C. They pollute soil
• D. They prevent plant growth

Answer: (B)

Decomposers are the crucial players in nutrient cycling. They break down dead organisms and waste, turning complex organic matter into simpler substances that plants can absorb. Through this process, essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are released back into the soil and water, making them available for other living things. This recycling keeps the ecosystem's nutrients in circulation and helps maintain soil fertility and ecosystem health. Decomposers get their energy by feeding on this organic material, not by capturing energy from the sun like producers do. The other statements misstate their main role: producers capture sunlight for energy, while pollution or hindering plant growth are not typical functions of decomposers.