BIOL-2356EL Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Saprotrophic Nutrition, Humus, Detritivore
4 Mar 2020
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Learning outcome aka what you should know: molecules. Ex. , fungi, bacteria and animals feeding on dead organisms. That decomposition of dead biomass and organic matter is an important ecosystem process. Decomposition enables the recycling of mineral nutrients. They turn organic matter into inorganic ions and. Rate depends on litter quality (such as c/n ratio), lignin content, degree of fragmentation etc. Immobilization may increase litter nutrient content during the initial stages of decomposition, especially in. Litter decomposition rate also depends on environmental factors such as temperature and moisture. During decomposition, organic molecules show transformation, resulting in the long term in an accumulation cases of low-n litter of stable long-lived molecules. Composted biomass contains a lot of plant-available nutrients. Decomposers: organisms which feed on dead organic material. Saprophytes/ saprophages: feeds or grows on dead organic material. Detritivores: animals that feed on dead organic matter. All heterotrophs transform organic compounds to inorganic ones to some degree (ex.
