Some dead plant material escapes from the photosynthesis-respiration cycle by __________ and thus becomes a reservoir for __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dead plant material can be buried and transformed into fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which are reduced carbon compounds. This takes the material out of the photosynthesis-respiration cycle and makes it a reservoir for reduced carbon compounds. Additionally, decomposition would release oxygen compounds back into the cycle, so option A is not correct. Option B is incorrect because burial alone does not explain what type of compounds the dead plant material becomes a reservoir for. Option D is incorrect because decomposition would not result in reduced carbon compounds escaping the cycle, but would instead release carbon dioxide back into the cycle.

Some Dead Plant Material Escapes from the Photosynthesis-Respiration Cycle by __________