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| Question | Answer |
| Detritivores | eat dead and decaying matter main role is toincrease the surface area of decaying matter so that decomposers can act more quickly, completing breakdown |
| Types of detritivores | Earthworms - dead leaves Maggots - animal tissue Woodlice - wood |
| Decomposers | Microorganisms which breakdown the organic molecules in dead organisms and their waste main decomposers are bacteria and fungi |
| Sacrophytic Nutrition | Bacteria and fungi chemically break down organic material using enzymes. They then absorb the simple molecules through their cell surfaces. This makes them sacrophytes and this type of feeding is called Sacrophytic Nutrition |
| Releasing Nutrients | The soluble nutrients are absorbed by the decomposers back into their bodies, and used for growth and as an energy store. Many fungi and bacteria are eaten by other organisms resulting in the nutrients being passed on |
| Decomposition | Organisms contain elements that need to be returned to the soil or air so that they can be used by new plants. These elements are returned to the environment in waste products by organisms or when the organism dies |
| Rate of decomposition | Oxygen availability/aerobic conditions Temperature Water Content |
| Oxygen availability | Decomposers need oxygen for aerobic respiration so rate of decomposition is faster in an area in which there is plenty of oxygen Some decomposers respire anaerobically but this transfers less energy meaning the rate will be slow |
| Temperature | Decomposers contain enzymes which digest waste material therefore decomposers work best in warm conditions up until a certain point |
| Water content | Decomposers need water to survive therefore rate is increased in moist conditions and these conditions allow the simple chemicals to dissolve well so diffusion is much faster. Waterlogged soils wouldn't work as they don't have enough oxygen |
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