Ecosystem
During the breakdown of detritus in an ecosystem, the step in which detritivores break down complex organic remains into smaller particles is specifically called what?
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About This Question
- Subject
- biology
- Chapter
- ecology and environment
- Topic
- ecosystem
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Fragmentation
Decomposition of detritus proceeds through a defined sequence of overlapping processes carried out chiefly by detritivores and decomposers. Fragmentation is the first step, in which detritivores such as earthworms break down detritus into smaller particles, increasing the surface area available for microbial action. Leaching is a separate step in which water-soluble inorganic nutrients percolate down into the soil horizon and become unavailable as salts. Humification is the process that produces humus, a dark amorphous substance highly resistant to further microbial decay. Mineralisation is the final step in which humus is degraded by microbes to release inorganic nutrients into the soil. As described in NCERT Class 12, Chapter 14 (Ecosystem), the steps in decomposition are fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralisation. Plausibility check: since the question specifically describes the physical breaking of remains into smaller particles, and only fragmentation matches that definition while the other options describe chemical or transport processes, fragmentation is internally consistent and correct.
This easy difficulty biology question is from the chapter ecology and environment, covering the topic of ecosystem. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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