Decomposers and Microorganisms in Nutrient Cycling Flashcards

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What is a decomposer in biology?

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead plants, animals and waste into simpler substances.

Name two groups of microorganisms that act as decomposers.

Bacteria and fungi are the main microorganisms that act as decomposers.

What do decomposers use as their food source?

They feed on dead plants, dead animals and animal waste such as faeces.

How do decomposers break down dead material?

They release enzymes onto the dead material. The enzymes break it into small, soluble substances they can absorb.

What is nutrient cycling in an ecosystem?

Nutrient cycling is the continuous movement of nutrients through the environment, living organisms and back again.

How do decomposers help nutrient cycling in the soil?

They change dead material into mineral ions. These ions return nutrients to the soil.

Why are decomposers important for plant growth?

They release mineral ions, such as nitrates, into the soil. Plant roots absorb these ions to make new cells.

How do nutrients released by decomposers reach animals?

Plants take in the nutrients from the soil. Animals then eat the plants or other animals to gain those nutrients.

How is a decomposer different from a consumer such as a herbivore?

A decomposer feeds on dead material and waste. A herbivore is a consumer that eats living plants.

Give one example of a microorganism decomposer and what it decomposes.

Soil bacteria decompose dead leaves. They turn the leaf tissue into mineral ions in the soil.

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