Glossary Nutrient Cycling If a plant or animal dies naturally, or if portions of an organism remain uneaten, organisms of decay, known as decomposers (bacteria and fungi), release the energy within the organisms body to the environment as heat and break down the organism's organic molecules to nutrients or simple molecules such as carbon dioxide and water.
(a plant or animal; dies naturally; ) (portions of an organism; remain; uneaten) (organisms of decay; known; as decomposers)
a plant or animal portions of an organism organisms of decay
dies naturally remain known
uneaten
as decomposers