what happens to carbon when the animals die?

Question

need help with labs

Answer 1

assimilated into the feasting beasty (mainly bacteria) or released as methane or co2 from thier metabolism..this is why dead people swell. william the 1st of england was so swollen that when they tried to get the lead coffin lid on he popped and the stench is supposed to have been so bad it emptied the cathedral

Answer 2

Archersc is right, but there are usually enough carbon-containing fragments left for the radiocarbon dating that you ask about in your other question.