Identify the correct statements: A. Detritivores perform fragmentation. B. The humus is further degraded by some microbes during mineralisation. C. Water soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil and get precipitated by a process called leaching. D. The detritus food chain begins with living organisms. E. Earthworms break down detritus into smaller particles by a process called catabolism. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Solution & Explanation

Answer: (A) A is correct (detritivores perform fragmentation), B is correct (humus is further degraded by microbes during mineralisation), and C is correct (leaching sends water-soluble nutrients down and precipitates them). D is wrong because the detritus food chain begins with DEAD organic matter, not living organisms. E is wrong because earthworms fragment detritus — that is fragmentation, not catabolism. Hence the correct statements are A, B, C only = (a). NCERT Reference: Ch 12, p.210 — “The detritus food chain (DFC) begins with dead organic matter”