2020 Phase-2 EcosystemFactors affecting rate of decomposition Medium Question 32 of 85 in Ecosystem

The rate of decomposition is faster in the ecosystem due to following factors EXCEPT:

A Detritus richer in lignin and chitin
B Detritus rich in sugars
C Warm and moist environment
D Presence of aerobic soil microbes

The answer is A.

Solution

Detritus rich in lignin and chitin decomposes more slowly (these are resistant structural compounds), so this factor is an exception — it actually slows down decomposition rather than speeding it up, unlike detritus rich in sugars, a warm/moist environment, or the presence of aerobic microbes.

Concept Factors affecting rate of decomposition

Ecosystem in past papers

85 questions from this chapter have appeared across 26 exam years.