( ( In ( an ecosystem ) ) ( , ( fungi ( ( ( ( play ( ( the role ) ( of decomposers ) ) ) -- ) ( they ( ( ( ( break down ) ( dead ( organic matter ) ) ) and ) ( ( return ( vital nutrients ) ) ( to ( the soil ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (DT an) (NN ecosystem))) (, ,) (NP (NNS fungi)) (VP (VBP play) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN role)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS decomposers)))) (: --) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VP (VB break) (PRT (RP down)) (NP (JJ dead) (JJ organic) (NN matter))) (CC and) (VP (VB return) (NP (JJ vital) (NNS nutrients)) (PP (TO to) (NP (DT the) (NN soil))))))) (. .)))
In an ecosystem, fungi play the role of decomposers -- they break down dead organic matter and return vital nutrients to the soil.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Decomposers)) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (JJ important) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN food) (NN chain)))) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VP (VB break) (PRT (RP down)) (NP (JJ dead) (NNS organisms))) (CC and) (VP (VB recycle) (NP (NNS nutrients)) (PP (IN into) (NP (DT the) (NN soil)))))))) (. .)))
Decomposers are important in the food chain because they break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients into the soil.