Modeling the Carbon Cycle Quick Check What happens to carbon in plants when the plants die? (1 point) O The carbon is released into the environment. O The carbon disappears during decomposition. The carbon stays in the plants' bodies, which do not decompose. The carbon is converted into rocks.

When plants die, the carbon stored in their tissues can be released back into the environment through a process called decomposition. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down the organic material, transforming it into carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere, or into other forms stored in the soil. This process helps maintain the balance of carbon in the carbon cycle! In a fun twist, you can think of this as the ultimate recycling program! Just like putting old newspapers in a bin to be transformed into new paper products, dead plants become nutrients for the soil, benefiting new plant growth. The cycle keeps going, helping our planet flourish!