Bacteria, Fungi, and Larger Organisms Attack Dead Leaves, Breaking Them

Bacteria, fungi, and larger organisms attack dead leaves, breaking them into smaller fragments.Soil and fecal material of larger organisms, such as earthworms, contain bacteria that continue the decomposition.Bacteria ultimately mineralize the leaf material into inorganic substances that are used by primary producers and bacteria.These activities describe the process of decomposition as it relates to

A) ecological succession.
B) earthworm life cycles.
C) bacterial life cycles.
D) ability of plants to obtain sunlight for photosynthesis.
E) biogeochemical cycling of nutrients through ecosystems.