In a forest,deer,raccoons,squirrels,and other animals eat and find shelter.A detrital food web occurs as their wastes accumulate on the forest floor.In this detrital web,
A)deer and raccoons function as the producers.
B)fungi and earthworms function as producers.
C)decomposers function as consumers.
D)the deer and raccoons represent decomposers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a detrital food web, decomposers such as fungi and earthworms break down the wastes of animals and plants, releasing nutrients back into the soil. This makes the nutrients available for use by other organisms, which then consume the decomposers as consumers. Deer, raccoons, and other animals are consumers, not producers, in the food web, and they do not function as decomposers.

In a Forest,deer,raccoons,squirrels,and Other Animals Eat and Find Shelter