Question

read the passage. then answer the question below.
when a chestnut oak tree dies and falls in a forest, it becomes a new habitat. organisms called decomposers feed on and break down the dead tree.
the jelly rot fungus is a decomposer that feeds on the hard, woody tissues of dead chestnut oak trees. as the fungus digests the dead tree, it converts the hard wood into softer tissue. once the wood is soft, bacteria, beetles, and earthworms begin to tunnel into it. as the dead tree is broken down further, the soil below becomes rich in nutrients.
which of the following best describes a community on a dead tree in a forest?
the jelly rot fungus, the earthworms, and the beetles
a forest of chestnut oak trees
the soil and the bacteria

Explanation:

A community in ecology consists of all the different populations of organisms living in a particular area. The jelly rot fungus, earthworms, and beetles are all organisms (different populations) interacting on the dead tree. A forest of chestnut oak trees is a population (same species), not a community. The soil is an abiotic component, and including it with bacteria (biotic) does not represent a community (which is only biotic populations).

Answer:

the jelly rot fungus, the earthworms, and the beetles