Factors Affecting Decomposition
Rate of decay
- Decomposition (also known as decay or rotting) is the breaking down and digestion of biological material (waste products and dead organisms) by organisms called decomposers
- Decomposers include microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and detritus feeders
- Detritus is a catch-all term for dead organic matter eg. leaf mulch, animal remains, fallen trees, other organic debris. etc
- Decomposition is a crucial process as it ensures that materials such as carbon and mineral ions are recycled and returned to the environment
- Remember, there is a finite (fixed) amount of all the elements on Earth, new atoms cannot be created out of nothing!
- The rate of decay is the speed that decomposers break down biological material and is affected by three key factors:
- Temperature, water and availability of oxygen
Factors Affecting Rate of Decay Table
