Decomposers

1. Decomposers By E.T.

2. What are decomposers? Vital components of the nutrient cycle An organism, often a bacterium or fungus, that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter, thus making organic nutrients available to the ecosystem.

3. Scavengers  Animals that find dead animals or plants and eat them help break down or reduce organic material into smaller pieces Examples: Flies  Wasps   Cockroaches  Earthworms(only break down plants)

4. Different kinds of decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms, and in doing so carry out the natural process of decomposition Examples: Fungi Bacteria Worms

5. Fungi Fungi ≠ Plants over 50,000 species of fungi E.g.: mushrooms , mildew , mold, toadstools, etc. Penicillin and other antibiotics are made from fungi .

6. Bacteria Prokaryotic (no nucleus) recycle dead plants and animals by turning them into minerals and nutrients that plants can use only see them with a microscope

7. Worms Hermaphroditic (have both male and female organs) Earthworms eat dead plants and animals excrete wastes in the form of casts ( rich in nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash) loosen the soil

8. How decomposers decompose dead things? 1. A fungus releases enzymes on to the dead remains 2. The enzymes digest the dead matter and make it soluble 3 . The soluble products are taken up by the fungus

9. What would happen if decomposer's are removed from the ecosystem?

10. Bibliography academics.uww.edu Retrieved on 7 th June,2011 20:20 http:// academics.uww.edu/cni/webquest/HallOfFame/decomposers/decomposer.htm Decomposer Bacteria . Retrieved on 8 th June,2011 from http :// www.earth-cards.com/pseudomonas_bacteria.htm fungi , telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved on 8 th June,2011 20:31 from http:// www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/earth/3234942/More-Telegraph-readers-pictures-of-autumn-colours-in-Britain.html?image=3 microbiologyonline.org.uk Retrieved on 7 th June,2011 21:30 http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/about-microbiology/introducing-microbes/fungi nextnature.net Retrieved on 7 th June,2011 21:42 http://www.nextnature.net/2008/12/bacteria-that-eat-waste-shit-petrol/ Thefreedictionary.com Retrieved on 7 th June,2011 20:13 http:// www.thefreedictionary.com/decomposer worsleyschool.net Retrieved on 8 th June,2011 17:21 http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/decomposers/page.html

11. Bibliography New Biology for You Gareth Williams Retrieved on 8 th Jane, 2011 17:53