A balance of nitrogen compounds in the environment supports plant life and is not a threat to animals. The nitrogen cycle is a series of processes that converts nitrogen gas to organic substances and back to nitrogen in nature. The nitrogen cycle can be broken down into four types of reaction and micro-organisms play roles in all of This may arouse the yuk response in many readers, but the fact is that ecosystems could not function without decomposers. A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead plant or animal matter. Other bacterial organisms use the ammonia to produce compounds called nitrates and nitrites. Some bacteria can survive without oxygen, such as those used in biogas generators. Decomposers break down dead organic materials and release nutrients into the soil or water. These nutrients continue the cycle as producers use them to grow. The major decomposers are bacteria and fungi. Decomposers break down the bodies of dead organisms, urine and faeces resulting in nitrogen being returned to the soil as ammonia. What would happen to ecosystems without decomposers? Decay cycle refers to breakdown of complex organic matters present in dead and decaying plant and animal bodies into the simpler substances. If bacteria and fungi did not break down dead organisms, energy and valuable nutrients would remain trapped within the dead organisms. Decomposers are the microbial heterotrophs and include fungi as well as bacteria. Choose the correct sequence of this cycle: (a) CO 2 in atmosphere→ decomposers → organic carbon in animals → inorganic carbon in soil (b) CO 2 in atmosphere → organic carbon in plants →organic carbon in animals → inorganic carbon in soil This video explains abour Decomposers and Decay Organisms use this form of nitrogen to produce amino acids. This is because ecosystems depend on recycling in order to function. Decomposers may even become food themselves when they are attached to a … They serve in decay cycle. The process uses oxygen and lack of oxygen slow down the decay cycle. There is always a cycle of CO 2 running in the atmosphere due to which the concentration of CO2 remains constant in the atmosphere. Q3. This ammonia is converted to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria. It is a continuous cycle that is maintained by the decomposers and nitrogen bacteria. What will happen is that something like those things will evolve pretty quickly. The nitrogen cycle is a five-step process that produces a fixed form of nitrogen. Published: essentialARB, Issue 4 - 2001 Fungi are fundamental to the success and health of almost every ecosystem on earth, both terrestrial and aquatic, and essential to the sustainability of biodiversity. It is only when the cycle is not balanced that problems occur. This is of concern, as N 2 O is a potent greenhouse gas – contributing to global warming. 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