Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms; they carry out decomposition, a process possible by only certain kingdoms, such as fungi.[1] Like herbivores and predators, decomposers are heterotrophic, meaning that they use organic substrates to get their energy, carbon and nutrients for growth and development. While the terms decomposer and detritivore are often interchangeably used, detritivores ingest and digest dead matter internally, while decomposers directly absorb nutrients through external chemical and biological processes.[2] Thus, invertebrates such as earthworms, woodlice, and sea cucumbers are technically detritivores, not decomposers, since they are unable to absorb nutrients without ingesting them.[3]
Fungi acting as decomposers of a fallen tree branch
The primary decomposer of litter in many ecosystems is fungi.[4][5] Unlike bacteria, which are unicellular organisms and are decomposers as well, most saprotrophic fungi grow as a branching network of hyphae. While bacteria are restricted to growing and feeding on the exposed surfaces of organic matter, fungi can use their hyphae to penetrate larger pieces of organic matter, below the surface. Additionally, only wood-decay fungi have evolved the enzymes necessary to decompose lignin, a chemically complex substance found in wood.[6] These two factors make fungi the primary decomposers in forests, where litter has high concentrations of lignin and often occurs in large pieces. Fungi decompose organic matter by releasing enzymes to break down the decaying material, after which they absorb the nutrients in the decaying material.[7] Hyphae are used to break down matter and absorb nutrients and are also used in reproduction. When two compatible fungi hyphae grow close to each other, they will then fuse together for reproduction, and form another fungus.[7]
^. Archived from the original on 2014-10-09. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
^Trophic level. Eds. M. McGinley & C. J. Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC
^. citadel.sjfc.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
^Godbold, Douglas L.; Hoosbeek, Marcel R.; Lukac, Martin; Cotrufo, M. Francesca; Janssens, Ivan A.; Ceulemans, Reinhart; Polle, Andrea; Velthorst, Eef J.; Scarascia-Mugnozza, Giuseppe; De Angelis, Paolo; Miglietta, Franco (2006-03-01). "Mycorrhizal Hyphal Turnover as a Dominant Process for Carbon Input into Soil Organic Matter". Plant and Soil. 281 (1): 15–24. doi:10.1007/s11104-005-3701-6. ISSN 1573-5036. S2CID 24926892.
^Talbot, J. M.; Allison, S. D.; Treseder, K. K. (2008). "Decomposers in disguise: mycorrhizal fungi as regulators of soil C dynamics in ecosystems under global change". Functional Ecology. 22 (6): 955–963. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01402.x. ISSN 1365-2435.
^Blanchette, Robert (September 1991). "Delignification by Wood-Decay Fungi". Annual Review of Phytopathology. 29: 281–403. doi:10.1146/annurev.py.29.090191.002121.
^ abWaggoner, Ben; Speer, Brian. "Fungi: Life History and Ecology". Introduction to the Funge=24 January 2014.
Further readingEdit
Bear, MH; Hendrix, PF; Cheng, W (1992). "Microbial and faunal interactions and effects on litter nitrogen and decomposition in agroecosystems". Ecological Monographs. 62 (4): 569–591. doi:10.2307/2937317. JSTOR 2937317. S2CID 86031411.
Hunt HW, Coleman DC, Ingham ER, Ingham RE, Elliot ET, Moore JC, Rose SL, Reid CPP, Morley CR (1987) "The detrital food web in a shortgrass prairie". Biology and Fertility of Soils 3: 57-68
Smith TM, Smith RL (2006) Elements of Ecology. Sixth edition. Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco, CA.
October 18, 2023
decomposer, matches, album, same, name, album, organisms, that, break, down, dead, decaying, organisms, they, carry, decomposition, process, possible, only, certain, kingdoms, such, fungi, like, herbivores, predators, decomposers, heterotrophic, meaning, that,. For The Matches album of the same name see Decomposer album Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms they carry out decomposition a process possible by only certain kingdoms such as fungi 1 Like herbivores and predators decomposers are heterotrophic meaning that they use organic substrates to get their energy carbon and nutrients for growth and development While the terms decomposer and detritivore are often interchangeably used detritivores ingest and digest dead matter internally while decomposers directly absorb nutrients through external chemical and biological processes 2 Thus invertebrates such as earthworms woodlice and sea cucumbers are technically detritivores not decomposers since they are unable to absorb nutrients without ingesting them 3 Fungi acting as decomposers of a fallen tree branch Contents 1 Fungi 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingFungi EditThe primary decomposer of litter in many ecosystems is fungi 4 5 Unlike bacteria which are unicellular organisms and are decomposers as well most saprotrophic fungi grow as a branching network of hyphae While bacteria are restricted to growing and feeding on the exposed surfaces of organic matter fungi can use their hyphae to penetrate larger pieces of organic matter below the surface Additionally only wood decay fungi have evolved the enzymes necessary to decompose lignin a chemically complex substance found in wood 6 These two factors make fungi the primary decomposers in forests where litter has high concentrations of lignin and often occurs in large pieces Fungi decompose organic matter by releasing enzymes to break down the decaying material after which they absorb the nutrients in the decaying material 7 Hyphae are used to break down matter and absorb nutrients and are also used in reproduction When two compatible fungi hyphae grow close to each other they will then fuse together for reproduction and form another fungus 7 See also EditChemotroph Micro animals MicroorganismReferences Edit NOAA ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve Decomposers Archived from the original on 2014 10 09 Retrieved 2012 09 17 Trophic level Eds M McGinley amp C J Cleveland Encyclopedia of Earth National Council for Science and the Environment Washington DC Decomposers citadel sjfc edu Archived from the original on 2019 06 26 Retrieved 2019 05 09 Godbold Douglas L Hoosbeek Marcel R Lukac Martin Cotrufo M Francesca Janssens Ivan A Ceulemans Reinhart Polle Andrea Velthorst Eef J Scarascia Mugnozza Giuseppe De Angelis Paolo Miglietta Franco 2006 03 01 Mycorrhizal Hyphal Turnover as a Dominant Process for Carbon Input into Soil Organic Matter Plant and Soil 281 1 15 24 doi 10 1007 s11104 005 3701 6 ISSN 1573 5036 S2CID 24926892 Talbot J M Allison S D Treseder K K 2008 Decomposers in disguise mycorrhizal fungi as regulators of soil C dynamics in ecosystems under global change Functional Ecology 22 6 955 963 doi 10 1111 j 1365 2435 2008 01402 x ISSN 1365 2435 Blanchette Robert September 1991 Delignification by Wood Decay Fungi Annual Review of Phytopathology 29 281 403 doi 10 1146 annurev py 29 090191 002121 a b Waggoner Ben Speer Brian Fungi Life History and Ecology Introduction to the Funge 24 January 2014 Further reading Edit Bear MH Hendrix PF Cheng W 1992 Microbial and faunal interactions and effects on litter nitrogen and decomposition in agroecosystems Ecological Monographs 62 4 569 591 doi 10 2307 2937317 JSTOR 2937317 S2CID 86031411 Hunt HW Coleman DC Ingham ER Ingham RE Elliot ET Moore JC Rose SL Reid CPP Morley CR 1987 The detrital food web in a shortgrass prairie Biology and Fertility of Soils 3 57 68 Smith TM Smith RL 2006 Elements of Ecology Sixth edition Benjamin Cummings San Francisco CA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Decomposer amp oldid 1161246824, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
