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Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Ecosystem

Question:

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:-

The earthworm is often referred to as the farmer's 'friend' due to its beneficial role in the breakdown of complex organic matter and soil aeration. Similarly, decomposers play a crucial role in converting complex organic matter into inorganic substances like carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients through the process of decomposition. Detritus, consisting of dead plant remains (leaves, bark, flowers) and animal waste, serves as the raw material for decomposition. Decomposition involves several important steps: fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralization.

What is the process of breakdown of detritus into smaller particles by the detritivores known as?

Options:

Anabolism

Fragmentation

Splicing

Mineralisation

Correct Answer:

Fragmentation

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (2) -Fragmentation

Fragmentation is the process in which detritivores (organisms that feed on detritus) break down detritus into smaller particles. Detritivores play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter into smaller components, facilitating further decomposition and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.

By the process of leaching, water-soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts. Bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade detritus into simpler inorganic substances. This process is called as catabolism. Humification leads  to accumulation of a dark coloured amorphous substance called humus that is highly resistant to microbial action and undergoes decomposition at an extremely slow rate. Being colloidal in nature it serves as a reservoir of nutrients. The humus is further degraded by some microbes and release of inorganic nutrients occur by the process known as mineralisation.

 

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