Question

fungi can act as decomposers in the environment. why is this important?
a) decomposers feed off of weak organisms of other species, weeding them out so that they don’t reproduce.
b) decomposers use sunlight and carbon dioxide to generate sugars.
c) decomposers break down waste and return nutrients to the environment.
d) decomposers allow plants to ingest nitrogen through their root nodules.
question 4 (5 points)
listen
for a virus, what advantages and disadvantages does the lytic lifecycle have compared with the lysogenic lifecycle?
a) the lytic lifecycle allows viruses to reproduce when the host cell reproduces, spreading to its daughter cells, but also gives the host cell more time to detect and fight the virus.
b) the lytic lifecycle ensures that the virus won’t be detected by the host cell but also kills the host and forces the virus to find a new host cell.
c) the lytic lifecycle allows viruses to reproduce more quickly but also kills the host and forces the virus to find a new host cell.

Explanation:

First Question (Fungi as Decomposers)

• Option A: Decomposers don't "weed out" weak organisms; they break down dead organic matter, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: Organisms that use sunlight and CO₂ to make sugars are producers (like plants), not decomposers, so B is wrong.
• Option C: Decomposers (including fungi) break down waste (dead organisms, organic debris) and release nutrients (like nitrogen, phosphorus) back into the environment for other organisms to use, which matches their role.
• Option D: Nitrogen fixation in root nodules is done by bacteria (like rhizobia), not decomposers, so D is incorrect.

Second Question (Virus Lifecycles)

• Option A: The lysogenic cycle (not lytic) allows viruses to reproduce when the host cell reproduces (prophage replication with host DNA), so A misidentifies the cycle.
• Option B: The lysogenic cycle (hiding as prophage) is more likely to avoid detection, while the lytic cycle destroys the host quickly, so B's "won't be detected" is wrong for lytic.
• Option C: In the lytic cycle, the virus takes over the host, replicates rapidly, then lyses (kills) the host to release new viruses, forcing them to find new hosts. This correctly describes lytic's speed and consequence.

Answer:

C) Decomposers break down waste and return nutrients to the environment.