Aleaf falls from a tree and lands on the ground. through time, bugs and bacteria consume the leaf. which of the following statements regarding this scenario is true? a leaf falls from a tree and lands on the ground. through time, bugs and bacteria consume the leaf. which of the following statements regarding this scenario is true?
a. the organic materials in the leaf have been recycled and released back into the soil.
b. the decomposers are able to use all of the energy that the plant's leaf obtained from sunlight using photosynthesis.
c. the organic material that made up the leaf has been removed from that ecosystem.
d. through the process of digestion, the bugs and bacteria have created new matter that did not exist before.

The correct answer is A. The organic materials in the leaf have been recycled and released back into the soil.

Explanation:

The microorganisms and organisms called decomposers include bugs, bacteria and fungi. These organisms break down the organic materials from which the leaf and other dead animals or vegetation are made of. By doing so, they are devouring or eating just the components they need and leaving other nutrients or organic materials, available for other organisms in the soil. Example, some fungi break down dead wood, by doing so, they can obtain lignin, which is one of the chemical components of wood. However, when lignin is depleted, the fungi have already break down all the wood structure and some minerals, like Fe (iron) or Cu (copper), become more accessible for other microorganisms such as earthworms or mycorrhiza.