This blog contains Types and Roles of Decomposers and Stages of Decomposition process in detail. It also contain information about Decomposers in Biodiversity and the Decomposition process. This is a complete guide about the importance of Decomposition process in the Environment and Ecosystem stability.
What are Decomposers in Biodiversity?
Decomposers are the organisms that break down Organic Matter into simpler inorganic materials that are useful for the Environment. These organisms may be Fungi, Bacteria or other tiny invertebrates.
The group of Decomposers plays important roles in maintaining the Nutrient shift in the Environment. The dead bodies of plants and animals a left onto the Soil. The work of decomposers starts there. The decomposers breakdown the dead organic matter into simpler forms in which they can be easily absorbed by the soil and Environment. Without decomposers, the Earth would be full of dead plants and animals and they would never decompose on Earth.
These organisms are very small and most of the time microscopic in appearance. Biodiversity return their nutrients and minerals when they are dead and this is possible with the help of decomposers. This blog contains Types, Roles, and stages of decomposition by Decomposers.
What is the definition of Decomposition?
The process of decomposition can be defined as the conversion of complex substances into simpler substances that can be utilized easily.
Decomposition is one of the most important Natural Processes in the world. It is the basic process thar helps in the return of Nutrients back to the Environment. Some organisms are specialized in performing this process. All of the other organisms have no power to perform decomposition including the strongest and huge organisms. This important process is assigned to the smallest organisms on Earth. It makes those organisms very important in the Ecosystem and in maintaining Nutrient cycle and balance into the Environment.
We will have a complete description of Decomposers in this Blog. This blog contains Types, Roles and Stages of Decomposition by Decomposers in this Blog.
What are the Stages of Decomposition?
Decomposition process is very important in stabilizing the Environment. There are five stages that involves in the completion of Decomposition Process. Following are the Five Stages of Decomposition:
1. Fresh:
This is the most initial stage of Decomposition. In this stage first of the body enzymes themselves breakdown the cells of the body by their action after death. This processes is called as Autolysis. Then the next step of this stage occurs, in which the blood of the body starts accumulating the the tower body. This cause discoloration and it is called Livor Mortis process. At the end of this stage, a condition comes and the body becomes stiff as the muscle contracts, this is Rigor Mortis. This seems like the end of Fresh or initial Stage of Decomposition.
2. Bloat:
The Bloat stage is also known as Putrefaction. This stage is characterized by Gas formation, Unpleasant Odor and Skin Discoloration. In the start of this stage the bacteria in the intestine of the body starts producing Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide into the body. This cause the body to bloat. The next step occurs when the body produce unpleasant and strong odor. After the unpleasant odor, the body shows extreme Discoloration. This is the end of Bloating Stage of Decomposition. This is the phase in which bacteria spread in all over the body.
3. Active Decay:
This is the third and an important step of Decomposition. In this stage the steps that involves are, Tissue Liquefaction, Insect Activity and Loss of Mass. The first thing that occurs, is the liquefaction of the tissues. The tissues are converted into liquid. Then the role of biological organisms starts. The flies and insects lay eggs on the body and the larvae are feed of Decomposers. Then the next step occurs in which the decomposers feed on larvae and now it is ready to be consumed by the Microorganisms and insects. This whole process is Active Decay Stage of Decomposition.
4. Advanced Decay:
It is the second last stage of Decomposition process. The steps included in this process includes; Decreased insect activity, Drying out and Soil Interaction. When majority of soft tissues of the body are gone, the insect activity is decreased or restricted. Then the process of drying out starts. This means that the remaining tissues starts to dry out and mummify. The last step of this stage is a very significant step of decomposition. Soil Interaction in decomposition states that the nutrients are adding into the nearby soil in the form of decomposed material. In this step the Nutrients returns back to the Environment.
5. Dry and Remains:
This is the last stage of Decomposition process. In this stage the body is completely dry on the soil. First of all Bones are exposed to the soil. These bones may have some connective tissues and some dry skin with them. Then after the drying out of bones, the breakdown of bones starts. This can be because of Environmental Factors, Soil Acidity etc. In this way the nutrients and minerals that are the components of bones, also adds into the Soil and return to the Environment from where living organisms consume them.
These are the five stages of Decomposition. The process of decomposition requires Decomposers and Environmental Factors to perform Decomposition process. All of these stages are equally important in decomposition process. This blog contains Types, Roles and Stages of Decomposition by Decomposers.
What are the Main Types of Decomposers?
Decomposers can be of different types of tiny organisms. There are 4 main Types of Decomposers. Following are the main types of Decomposers that exists on Earth and perform Decomposition:
i) Fungi:
Fungi are spore-forming heterotrophic organisms. These have the ability to breakdown complex substances into simpler forms so they are capable of performing decomposition process. They are a type of Decomposers. These are principle decomposers on the Earth. But some of the species of Fungi are not Decomposers. Fungi release enzymes to decompose litter, these enzyme breakdown dead organic matter facilitating the Decomposition process.
Example of Decomposers from Fungi:
Tricoderma reesei and Penicillium echinulatum are two Decomposers from Fungi specie.
ii) Bacteria:
Soil Environment is rich with huge amounts of Bacteria. These bacteria play significant roles in performing Decomposition process on Earth. Bacteria mostly involves in the initial stages of Decomposition. These tiny microscopic organisms, breakdown different organic compounds by releasing different types of enzymes. They are present in very large numbers in the soil and they are significant contributors in Decomposition.
Examples of Bacterial Decomposers:
Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, are two Bacterial Decomposers on Earth.
iii) Insects:
Insects are the secondary decomposers. They eat the dead organic matter from their mouth and then digest the litter in their intestine. The most important fact about these tiny organisms is that, they are capable of eating and digesting a wide variety of organic matter. If they can eat it, they can decompose it very well. The insects that do not digest the organic matter, they release enzymes that decompose the litter in nearby soil Environment.
Examples of Insect Decomposers:
Flies, Dung Beetles, and Ants are insect Decomposers present on Earth.
iv) Earthworms:
Earthworm is an example of Animal decomposers. These are tiny animals that feed on dead organic matter and fecal wastes. They also eat the organic matter and other forms of consumable wastes through their mouth and then digest them into their intestine. Their excretion is consumable material for the soil that helps in increasing soil fertility. The decomposition of Earthworms also play significant roles in the decomposition of wastes and formation of Compost.
Example of Earthworm Decomposers:
All Annelid Earthworms are the Decomposers for the organic matter.
These were the 4 main types of Decomposers. They play significant roles in stabilizing the Nutrient Cycle and help in the Decomposition process. This blog is all about Types, Roles and Stages of Decomposition process by Decomposers.
What are the Significant Roles of Decomposers?
Decomposers perform a number of important Ecosystem Services in maintaining the Environment and stabilizing the Ecosystem by returning Nutrients back to nature. Following are some important Roles that Decomposers play in Ecosystem Maintenance:
1: Carbon Cycle:
Carbon is one of building blocks of living cells and living structures. So, most of the organic matter contain Carbon content. When decomposers breakdown the dead organic matter or wastes into Environmentally useful materials, they return the consumed Carbon content back to the Environment. In this way decomposers play important roles in the completion of Carbon Cycle.
2: Promoting Biodiversity:
Decomposition of Organic Matter and waste materials adds fertility, nutrients, minerals and healthy salts into the soil. These can collectively make the soil fertile and may lead to the growth of Plant species that can help many tiny or large animals to survive on the Soil. This promotes Biodiversity at a great extent. We can see that, the more greener a location will be, the richer it will be from Biodiversity.
3: Energy Flow:
Proper energy flow is the key need for the proper working of an Ecosystem. Energy transfers from one process to another. In the same way through decomposition energy exerts on different components of the Environment and there the flow of energy transfers from one component to another. These organisms helps in the stabilizing of Energy and managing the Energy flow into the Environment.
4: Nutrient Cycling:
Nutrient cycle involves all the steps that works from the utilization of nutrients from the Environment to returning the Nutrients back to the Environment. It includes different processes, organisms and different components of the Environment. The living organisms takes up nutrients from the Environment throughout their lives and Decomposers makes it possible to return the nutrients back to the Environment. In this way they play roles in Nutrient Cycling.
5: Soil Formation:
Soil formation is completed when specific amounts of humus, nutrients, water holding capacity, fertility and some more requirements are present in the soil. Decomposition process adds many of the essential components of the Soil Chemistry and Soil Environment into the soil to result in effective Soil formation. Many of the nutrients adds into the soil only through decomposition that are very crucial in maintaining Soil Environment and Formation.
6: Waste Decomposition:
Wastes of every kind are a threat to physical Environment and gives rise to Environmental Problems on Earth. Decomposers are very important organisms because they help us to wipe out all the organic waste and also converts them info useful and consumable forms for either the Soil or other living organisms as food. The decomposition process converts the organic wastes into nutrients and minerals that is healthy and good for the Soil Environment.
7: Detoxification:
Detoxification is the process of converting toxic substances and materials into less toxic or harmless substances that are present on the Earth. Decomposers have the capability of converting pollutants or toxic substances into less harmful or harmless substances that eventually helps in cleansing of the Environment. It also deals with the accumulation of organic matter that can become toxic for the Environment with passing time, so the decomposers wipe them out.
8: Soil Aeration:
Soil Aeration means the process that improves the exchange of gases between soil and atmosphere. This process can also be enhanced by Decomposers. As we know that decomposers are extremely tiny or microscopic organisms. They mostly live under the Earth’s crust. These help in making channels, improving aeration and improving the soil structure. All these processes are useful for the Soil Health and Soil Environment and improves fertility.
These are some of the important roles that Decomposers play in maintaining Ecosystem stability and Soil Environment. All of these roles are very important for managing the Environmental Problems related to soil. They also help in cleansing the Environment and managing Nutrients in the Environment. This blog contains information about Types and Roles of Decomposers and Stages of Decomposition process.
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