In the context of energy flow through ecosystems, which statement best describes how decomposers interact with their ecosystem?

• A. They primarily increase energy available to higher trophic levels by producing new biomass from inorganic carbon without consuming other organisms.
• B. They break down dead organisms and waste, converting organic matter into simpler substances and releasing nutrients that can be reused by producers.
• C. They capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy stored in sugars through photosynthesis.
• D. They function only as predators that control herbivore populations by feeding on living animals.

Answer: (B)