Exam 22: Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling

All heterotrophs to some degree function as decomposers.

Decomposers are primarily autotrophs.

During the process of decomposition,carbon quality typically declines.

The release of organically bound nutrients into an inorganic form is called ________.

In decomposition,fungi generally

________ is the process by which plants absorb a portion of their nutrients from senescing tissues to be stored and used for the production of new tissues.

In open water,the undissolved remains of dead organisms and other organic material that drifts toward the bottom is called ________ organic matter.

Litterbags can be used to estimate the rate of decomposition.