Which term describes an organism that breaks down dead organisms?

• A. Food chain
• B. Energy pyramid
• C. Decomposer
• D. Food web

Answer: (C)

The concept here is nutrient recycling by organisms that break down dead material. Decomposers do this by releasing enzymes that break down complex organic matter from dead organisms into simpler compounds, returning essential nutrients to the environment for use by producers. This tiny, invisible work keeps ecosystems running, linking the remains of once-living things back into the living world.

This is the best answer because it names the specific type of organism responsible for breaking down dead matter and explains their role in nutrient cycling. Other terms describe different aspects of ecosystems: a food chain follows a single path of who eats whom, a food web maps the network of feeding relationships, and an energy pyramid shows how energy is distributed across trophic levels.