Consumers, or heterotrophs, take in food made by other organisms. Then they break apart the food to release its energy. How do these actions of consumers contribute to the carbon cycle?

This question lacks options, options are:a.Eating and breaking apart food converts carbon to other elements.b.Eating and breaking apart food converts other elements into carbon.c.Eating food involves taking up carbon dioxide.d.Eating and breaking apart food releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct.The correct answer is d.

Explanation:

Heterotrophs are organisms unable to photosynthesize, so they obtain energy and carbon through the consumption of other organisms.Carbon enters all the trophic networks through the autotrophs, these create their own food by fixing carbon, that is, they capture the carbon dioxide that forms the air or dissolved in water and use it to produce organic compounds. Heterotrophs, which feed on other beings (obtain their food from organic sources present in their environment), consume organic molecules and thus organic carbon passes through the chains and trophic networks. Carbon atoms through respiration in the form of carbon dioxide are released.