Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms and return essential resources to the soil. Examples of decomposers include bacteria, fungi, worms, actinomycetes, maggots, and molds. Without decomposers, dead organisms would accumulate and wounds would not heal as decomposers break down organic matter and make nutrients available to other living things in the ecosystem.

1. Name: Joan Woo Class: P6^C1 Date: 29/1/11
Rep o r t on D
What are decomposers?
Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms. Like
herbivores and carnivores, decomposers are capable of converting organic
materials as a source of food, meaning that they use organic matter to get their
energy, carbon and nutrients for growth and development. Decomposers use
dead organisms and non-living organic compounds as their food source.
Importance of decomposers
The importance of decomposers to other living things is that they can break down
organic matter and return essential resources to the soil to be reused by the
community. When plants and animals die, those large complex compounds
cannot be directly used again. Instead the decomposers break them down and
make them available.
Earth without decomposers
If earth has no decomposers, there will be dead organisms everywhere as there
will be no decomposers to decompose the dead. Without decomposers, some
open wound cannot be healed. A good example would be the maggot. Maggots
are used to eat dead tissue, helping to clean open wounds. Using maggots is
sometimes faster than other non-surgical methods for wound-healing, and is not

2. as likely to injure healthy tissue. The larvae are placed in special bandages which
hold the maggots in after they are applied to a human wound.
Examples of decomposers
N ame of decomposer I nformation on decomposer
Bacteria Bacteria are the smallest living organisms. They will
eat things as diverse as a dead animal carcass to an
oil slick on the surface of the ocean, and often produce
methane as a byproduct.
Fungi Fungi are the primary and common of decomposers of
litter in many ecosystems. Fungi are important
because they break down tough organisms like wood,
enabling bacteria to continue the decomposition
process.
Worms Various types of worms are also considered
decomposers. For example, a worm that begins to
consume an apple helps to quicken its decay by
removing parts of the skin and flesh, exposing the
interior of the fruit to the elements and to other
decomposers.
Actinomycetes Actinomycetes are a form of fungi-like bacteria that
form long filaments that stretch through the soil.
Actinomycetes are the primary decomposers of tough
plant tissues like bark, paper and stems. Soil’s "earthy"
smell is caused by Actinomycetes at work. They are
especially effective at softening up tough materials.
Maggots The common house fly lays its eggs in rotting, moist
material. The hatched larvae then burrow into the skin.
Depending on the type of fly, the larvae remain in the
skin and cause lesions, or they move through the body
and cause damage to various organs.

3. Molds Molds are also common decomposers, and are
responsible for much of the rotting which takes place in
food. Molds grow long filaments, and reproduce using
spores.
Methane: a colorless, odorless, flammable gas