Question

n three to five sentences, describe what would happen to ecosystems if decomposers did not exist on Earth. Make sure your explanation includes a definition of decomposers.

Answer 1

Decomposers are organisms—chiefly bacteria and fungi, along with detritivores like earthworms and many insects—that break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil and atmosphere. Without decomposers, dead organic matter would build up and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus would remain locked in that waste instead of being recycled. Plants would become nutrient-limited and primary productivity would collapse, causing cascading declines in herbivores and predators and widespread ecosystem collapse. Additionally, carbon and other element cycles would be severely altered, changing atmospheric composition and long-term climate feedbacks.