Living Environment Regents Practice Test

Which organisms are best suited to convert organic wastes into compounds usable by autotrophs?

1. Producers

2. Decomposers

3. Consumers

4. Predators

The correct answer is: Decomposers

The correct response identifies decomposers as the organisms best equipped to convert organic wastes into forms that autotrophs can utilize. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down dead organisms and organic matter. This decomposition process transforms complex organic compounds into simpler substances, such as minerals and nutrients, which can then be absorbed by plants. Autotrophs, primarily plants, rely on these nutrients to carry out photosynthesis, synthesizing their own food from sunlight and inorganic materials. Without decomposers, organic materials would accumulate, and the nutrient cycle would be disrupted, leading to a decrease in soil fertility and overall ecosystem health. While producers are involved in converting inorganic substances into organic matter through photosynthesis, they do not have the capability to break down organic wastes. Consumers and predators, on the other hand, primarily obtain energy by consuming other organisms and do not directly participate in recycling organic material back into the environment in a way that benefits autotrophs. Thus, decomposers are vital for maintaining the balance in ecosystems by enabling the recycling of nutrients from dead organic matter back into the food web.