Question

Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of soil animals in Fragmentation during decomposition?

1. Soil animals primarily contribute to the chemical alteration of organic matter.
2. Fragmentation by soil animals breaks large pieces of organic matter into smaller ones.
3. Soil animals help in mixing the decomposing organic matter into the soil.
4. The primary role of soil animals is to release water-soluble nutrients from detritus.

• A. ii, iii
• B. All
• C. i, iv
• D. iii only

Answer 1

Answer:

A. ii, iii

• Soil animals, often referred to as detritivores or shredders (e.g., earthworms, millipedes, termites), play a crucial role in fragmentation. By ingesting and mechanically breaking down large pieces of detritus, they increase the surface area available for microbial colonization and activity.

• Their feeding and burrowing activities also mix organic matter into the mineral soil layers, improving soil structure, aeration, and nutrient distribution.

• This physical breakdown accelerates the overall decomposition process, making nutrients more accessible to other organisms.