Question

review the desert food web above. what organism, absent in the web, would be most responsible for recycling organic matter back through the food web?
a cougars
b bacteria
c sage bush
d cactus plants

Explanation:

Recycling organic matter requires decomposers, which break down dead organisms/waste into nutrients. Cougars are predators, sage brush/cactus are producers; only bacteria (a decomposer) fulfill this role, though absent in the shown web.

Answer:

B. bacteria