Decomposers - biotic components, Biology

Assignment Help:

Decomposers - Biotic Components

Also known as saprotrophs. Mostly, these are microscopic and are heterotrophic in nature. Decomposer organisms obtain their energy and nutrients by degrading dead organic matter. When plants and animals die, their bodies are still a source of energy and nutrients, as are their waste products such as urine and faces which they discard throughout their life times. These organic remains are decomposed by micro-organisms, namely fungi and bacteria which grow saprophytically on these remains. They secrete digestive enzymes from their bodies on the dead and wasted materials.

sub sequently absorbing the products of digestion. The rate of digestion is variable. The organic matter of animal wastes such as urine, faeces and corpses is consumed within a matter of weeks whereas fallen leaves and branches may take years to decomposes. During the decomposition of wood fungi act and produce an enzyme cellulase, that softens the wood. This enables the small animals to penetrate and ingest the material. Fragments of decomposing material are called detritus, and many small animals Iced on these, contributing to the process of breakdown. They are called detritivores. Because of the combined activities of the true decomposers (fungi .and bacteria) and detritivores (animals), in the breakdown (decomposition) of materials, they are sometimes collectively referred to as decomposers. Although, strictly the term decomposer relates to saprophytic organisms, Some typical terrestrial detritivores are: earthworm, woodlice, millipedes and other smaller (< 0.5 mm) animals such as mites, springtail and nematodes.


Related Discussions:- Decomposers - biotic components

Explain the maximum containment laboratory, >>>>Write a short note on the f...

>>>>Write a short note on the following- Question 1 Centrism in Bioethics Question 2 Bio Safety check list Question 3 Enforcement of IPRs Question 4 T

Digestion of carbohydrates, Digestion of carbohydrates Carbohydrate di...

Digestion of carbohydrates Carbohydrate digestion in vertebrates and invertebrates is very similar. All the enzymes shown in Table are not required by all animals. The enzymes

What are sarcomeres, Q. What are sarcomeres? Sarcomeres are the contrac...

Q. What are sarcomeres? Sarcomeres are the contractile units of the muscle tissue formed of alternating myosin blocks (thick filaments) and actin blocks (thin filaments). Sever

Define gas liquid chromatography, Define Gas liquid chromatography? Thi...

Define Gas liquid chromatography? This is used for separating and identifying volatile compounds of fatty acids, hydrocarbons, sterols, amino acids and lipids, even from nanogr

Testis of non-mammalian vertebrates, Normal 0 false false f...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Hydra – metazoa, Hydra – Metazoa The animals of phyla Cnidaria and Cte...

Hydra – Metazoa The animals of phyla Cnidaria and Ctenophora are made up of only two germ layers: ectoderm which forms the outer covering of the animal and endoderm which is t

What is oogenesis , What is Oogenesis ? The female sex cells, or eggs,...

What is Oogenesis ? The female sex cells, or eggs, are formed in the ovaries, the primary sex organs of the female. The precursor of the egg cells, or oogonia, are formed duri

Sensitive/critical periods: windows of enhanced plasticity, There are speci...

There are specific sensitive/critical periods in development during which acquisition of certain skills is substantially easier than at other times. In the animal domain there are

What do you mean by uricotelic and ureotelic excretions, Q Comparing toxici...

Q Comparing toxicity and the need for dilution in water how different are the uricotelic and ureotelic excretions? What are some examples of animals that present these respective t

Pisces, weberian oscles found in

weberian oscles found in

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd