VIVEKANANDA KENDRA ZILLA

PARISHAD VIDYALAYA
PORT MOUT

2024-2025

BIOLOGY INVESTRIGATORY PROJECT

B.KOMAL, CLASS 12
ROLL NUMBER - 06
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this biology investigatory
project entitled "Looking for Decomposer" has
satisfactorily completed by B.Komal of class XII
of V.K.Z.P.V Port mout in the academic year
2024-2025.

TEACHER'S EXAMINER'S
SIGNATURE SIGNATURE
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First, I would like to express my gratitude and I am
extremely grateful towards our respected principal who
is also my class teacher SHRI.RAJKUMAR SIR, for giving
me golden opportunity to research on the topic of
"Looking at Decomposer" .This helped me a lot to learn
many new things.

Secondly, I would like to thank my parents and friends

for supporting me in making this project a unique one .

B.KOMAL
 CONTENT
1. Decomposer defination.
2. Function of Decomposers.
3. Decomposer and Detritivores.
4. Decomposer and Scavenge.
5. Stages of decomposition.
6. Examples of Decomposers.
7. Importance of Decomposers.
8. Detritivores and scavenger.
9. What is decomposition?
10. Factors affecting decomposition.
11. Process of decomposition.
12. Ecosystem maintenance.
13. Conclusion
 LOOKING FOR DECOMPOSERS

Defination of Decomposers
A decomposer is an organism that decomposes, or
breaks down, organic material such as the remains of
dead organisms. Decomposers include bacteria and fungi.
These organisms carry out the process of decomposition,
which all living organisms undergo after death.
Decomposition is an important process because it allows
organic material to be recycled in an ecosystem system.
Function of Decomposers
Decomposers play an important role in every ecosystem. Without
decomposers, dead organisms would not be broken down and recycled
into other living matter. The reason decomposers decompose, however,
is simply because they need to survive. Decomposers are heterotrophic,
which means they get their energy from ingesting organic material. A
dead organism provides nutrients for decomposers like bacteria and
fungi to use in order to grow and reproduce, propagating their own
species. The side effect of this basic need to survive is that organic
material and nutrients are cycled throughout the ecosystem as other
organisms consume the bacteria and fungi.
Decomposers and Detritivores
Some organisms perform a similar function as decomposers, and are
sometimes called decomposers, but are technically detritivores. The
difference lies in the way decomposers and detritivores break down
organic material. Detritivores must digest organic material within their
bodies in order to break it down and gain nutrients from it.
Decomposers do not need to digest organic material internally in order
to break it down; instead, they can break down matter through
biochemical reactions. Organisms that are detritivores include
invertebrates such as earthworms, woodlice, sea stars, slugs, and
fiddler crabs.
Decomposers and Scavenge
Scavengers are the first to arrive at a dead organism’s remains, and
they directly eat the dead plant and animal material. Once scavengers
are done with the remains, decomposers and detritivores take over and
consume the parts that the scavengers have left behind. Many
predators will scavenge on occasion; examples of these sometime
scavengers include lions, jackals, wolves, raccoons, and opossums.
Vultures are obligate scavengers, meaning that scavenging is how they
obtain all of their food. They are the only members of the animal
kingdom that have to scavenge in order to eat.
Stages of Decomposition
When an organism dies and decomposers do the work of
decomposition, the organism’s remains go through five stages of
decomposition: fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and
dry/remains. There are two main processes that occur in a
decomposing organism: autolysis and putrefaction. Autolysis is when
cellular enzymes in the dead organism’s own body break down cells
and tissues, while putrefaction is when microbes grow and reproduce
throughout the body after death. Here is a brief summary of the five
stages.

Fresh
This stage begins as soon as an organism’s heart stops beating. With no
more oxygen coming into the body and a buildup of carbon dioxide,
autolysis begins to occur. Putrefaction also begins to occur.

Bloat
Due to putrefaction, a buildup of gases occurs and the organism’s
remains appear bloated in what is known as the bloat stage. Some
gases and fluids are purged from the body.
Active Decay
The remains lose mass, and liquefaction and disintegration of tissues
begins to occur. Bacteria produce chemicals such as ammonia,
hydrogen sulfide, and methane, which cause strong odors.

Advanced Decay
The organism has lost a lot of mass, so there is not much left to be
decomposed. If the organism is on or in soil, the surrounding soil will
show an increase in nitrogen, an important nutrient for plants.

Dry/Remains
In this stage, only dry skin, cartilage, and bones are left. Plant growth
may occur around the remains because of the increased nutrient levels
in the soil. Eventually, only the bones of the organism will remain.
Examples of Decomposers
Bacteria
Bacteria are microscopic, unicellular organisms found nearly
everywhere on Earth, including inside the human body. When an
organism dies, it provides many nutrients for bacteria to grow and
reproduce, and they become numerous in the process of putrefaction
during decomposition. Bacteria are themselves a cause of sickness and
even death when they infect organisms. Serious and often fatal
diseases such as typhus, tuberculosis, and cholera are caused by
bacterial infections. Bacteria that kill their hosts end up inadvertently
providing nutrients for other bacteria during decomposition.

Fungi
Fungi are the main decomposers in many environments. Some
examples of fungi are yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Fungi have
hyphae, which are branching filaments, and these hyphae are able to
enter organic matter, making fungi effective decomposers. Wood-decay
fungi have specific enzymes that digest compounds in wood, and are
the main decomposers in forests. In fact, wood-decay fungi are the only
producers of these enzymes, so they play a very important role in
decomposition.

Insects
Insects are considered to be detritivores (secondary decomposers) that
feed dead material by mouth and digestion of the litter in their
intestine.

The significance of these organisms is that they are capable of feeding

on a wide variety of organic matter, including animal parts, plants, and
also other insects.

Flies, dung beetles, maggots, and ants are insects decomposer.

Properly developed digestive systems are absent in maggots. Due to

this reason, they produce different enzymes (e.g., serine, protease,
leucine, aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase). These enzymes are
involved in the breaking down of various organic materials and require
nutrients obtained for the growth and development of decomposers.
Earthworms
The earthworm is the most common example of an animal decomposer.
They feed on dead animals and plants as well as fecal waste, and in
their intestine, litter reacts with enzymes resulting breakdown of litter.
The end product is expelled into the soil, and its mix with soil helps in
soil fertility.

Many farms and farmers use worms for the decomposition of various
organic matters to produce compost, which improves soil fertility.

Importance of Decomposers
Decomposers break down dead animal matter and dead plants. From
the decomposition, nutrients and energy are recycled and back into the
ecosystem to be used again.
The main decomposers found in many ecosystems are fungi, especially
in the forest; they help release phosphorus and nitrogen from dead
material.

Decomposers clean up the dead material by decomposition process,

and returning the nutrient to the soil nutrient is required for the
producer.

Decomposers maintain the whole biogeochemical cycle of an

ecosystem. If the decomposition is damaged or dies, the whole
ecosystem is affected.

Decomposers decompose dead material and create space for new

being or new life in the biosphere.

They help to recycle or put back the nutrient and other important
elements like calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus into the water, soil,
and air for reuse by a producer like a crop plant.

Decomposers regulate the food chain. They break a dead organic

compound into the simpler inorganic compound so the producer can
use them to grow.

They are responsible for nitrogen fixation in the soil. They change
nitrogen into a simpler form such as ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite that
can be used by other organisms or plants in the food chain.
Detritivores and Scavenger

Detritivores
Decomposers are two major groups, including detritivores and
saprotrophs. Detritivores are heterotrophic organisms that feed orally
on the dead matter to obtain nutrients and energy.

Detritivores eat dead matter and then digest or break down it in their
intestinal tract, so it contributes to decomposition.

Detritivores is branch of decomposer. It plays an essential role in most

biogeochemical cycles like the nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, and
phosphorous cycle.

Examples of detritivores are insects (such as mites, butterflies, mites),

flies, crabs, millipedes, woodlice, earthworms, etc.

Scavenger
Scavengers and decomposers are an important part of the food chain
involved in an ecosystem for recycling nutrients and organic matter.

Scavengers are known as the initiator of the decomposition process.

They initiate the decomposition process by converting dead mass into
small particles.

Examples of scavengers are insects (flies, cockroaches), fishes, crabs,

and birds (vultures).
What is Decomposition?
Decomposition is the process of breaking down complex organic
substances into simpler substances by the action of a decomposer
(microorganisms, insects, and worms).

It is the metabolic process, taking raw material and convert into a

complex compound, processing it, and then breakdown into a simpler
compound.

Decomposition of dead materials is an essential part of all life cycles on

earth. This process serves essential nutrients and minerals for plants
and also for the development and proper growth of new organisms.

Steps of decomposition
During the decomposition process of organic matter, the following five
steps occur simultaneously.

Fragmentation
This process is initiated by detritivores. It is the first stage of
decomposition. Fragmentation means the breakdown of the large piece
(detritus) into smaller pieces.

Leaching
Fragmented particles may contain water-soluble nutrients. The nature
of these nutrients is inorganic. These nutrients get dissolved in water
and seep into the soil.

Catabolism
When the complex or large compound changes into smaller particles
and the inorganic nutrient are removed, the enzyme is released by the
decomposer. These enzymes convert or break down detritus into the
simpler inorganic compound.

Humification
It is the process of formation of humus. Humus is a dark-colored, highly
nutrient-rich layer on the soil. This layer is made up of amorphous
substances which are highly resistant to any action of the
microorganism. Humus provides high fertility to the soil.

Mineralization
The conversion of organic matter into inorganic compounds or minerals
is called mineralization. Some of the minerals like NO3–, PO43-, etc.,
are important plant nutrients. Besides these, CO2, H2O, Ca+, NH4+,
SO42- etc., are generated and released into soil during mineralization.
Factor affecting decomposition
Quality of litter: The rate of decomposition depends upon the structural
and chemical characteristics of litter. If lignin is present in the litter,
then the decomposition rate is slower.

Temperature: The rate of decomposition is high in mesophilic ranges.

At higher temperatures, very little decomposition occurs because only a
few decomposers can grow in the thermophilic range.

Moister: Sufficient moisture required for microbial activity and

decomposition of organic matter.

Aeration: Most decomposers are aerobic, so oxygen becomes an

essential element in the decomposition process. In soil, oxygen is found
in the pores of the soil.

Soil pH: Soil organisms can grow in acidic (fungi), neutral (bacteria), and
slightly alkaline (actinomycetes) pH. rate of decomposition is high in
neutral to slightly alkaline soil.

Inorganic chemicals: Rate of decomposition affected by the chemical

quality of detritus. A higher number of inorganic minerals present in
dead material can slow down the rate of decomposition.
Example of decomposers
Decomposers in ocean aquatic system: Christmas tree worm, Crabs,
Hagfish, Granulated sea star, Sea urchin, and Tube worm.

Decomposers in freshwater: Mildew, Trumpet snail, Water mold, Yeast,

and freshwater bacteria.

Forest ecosystem decomposer: Beetle, Earthworm, Millipede,

Mushroom, Pillbug, soil bacteria, and slime mold.

Grassland ecosystem decomposer: Acido bacteria, Termites,

Mushrooms.

Mountain ecosystem decomposer: Bolete mushroom, Fungus,

Mountain pine bark beetle, etc.
Roles of Decomposers and Detritivores

Food Chain
Organisms in this level of the food chain provide nutrients for the
producers (plants) who in turn are eaten by the consumers in the next
level who are then eaten by tertiary consumers. Fungi release enzymes
that break down dead organic matter and release it into the soil while
earthworms excrete nutrient-rich waste that adds more vitality to the
soil. The tunneling action of earthworms also helps to break up and
aerate the soil.

Soil bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens are

extensively involved at the decomposer level as well. They are critical
for the early stages of decomposition before fungi and earthworms
take over. Bacteria not only feed on dead leaves and weeds but they
also fix nitrogen in the soil so it is not lost to the air or water

Nutrient Cycling
Decomposers are involved in virtually all of the nutrient cycles on the
planet. The plants in the consumer level rely on decomposers to break
down dead organic material to release the nutrients and elements like
carbon, oxygen and phosphorus back into the soil. This along with
energy from the sun powers the process of photosynthesis in plants.
When organisms in the consumer level eat the producers, they extract
the energy from the food and excrete waste that goes back into the
decomposers food chain. This is the constant process of ingesting,
excreting and recycling that goes on in an ecosystem.

Nitrogen Fixation
Decomposer bacteria are responsible for fixing nitrogen in the soil,
meaning they transform nitrogen into a form that can be used by other
organisms in the food chain. Specifically, the bacteria take atmospheric
nitrogen and turn it into molecules such as ammonia, nitrate and nitrite
which can be used by plants. In some plants like legumes, the
bacterium Rizobium lives in nodules on the roots of the plants in a
symbiotic relationship. In turn for giving them a place to live, the
bacteria return the favor by fixing nitrogen for the plants to use.

Nitrogen-fixing nodules in the roots of legumes

Ecosystem Maintenance
Decomposers are like the housekeepers of an ecosystem. Without
them, dead plants and animals would keep piling up with the nutrients
the soil needs trapped inside. Decomposers clean up the dead material
by processing it and returning the nutrients to the soil for the producers.
If the decomposer community is damaged or dies, the whole
biogeochemical cycle of an ecosystem is affected. Should this happen
on a larger scale, the entire planet would be in peril.

Conclusion
Decomposers are creatures that eat on the remains of dead and
decaying animals and plants. By obtaining nutrition and energy from
such materials, decomposers return some nutrients to the ecological
system, where they can be absorbed by plants. Biodegradable
microorganisms are known as natural decomposers because they have
the extraordinary ability to use a wide range of organic substances as a
source of energy while also converting toxic substances into harmless
by-products. Bioremediation is the process of removing toxic pollutants
from the environment with the help of microbes. It is a long-term and
cost-effective solution that is environmentally friendly. The
development of improved tools and methods in molecular biology and
genetic engineering has altered the way this natural phenomena is seen,
and it has opened up new paths for further investigation into
bioremediation in greater depth.
THANK YOU