Introduction
An ecosystem is a system that is formed as a result of the interaction between a group of organisms living in a particular environment in this biosphere and in the inert environment of that organism. Many species of plants and animals live in this ecosystem. They are dependent on each other. In this ecosystem, plants can make their own food, so they are called producers. Animals take plants as food, so they are consumers. The food chain is the chain created by the flow of energy between the consumer and the producer of the ecosystem. There are different types of food chains. Green plants are mostly the producers in the ecosystems. Besides green plants, decomposing organic matter is the producer of some food chains. This type of food chain is a decomposer food chain (1) & (2).
Definition
The energy and nutrients in the food chain that is transmitted to dead fungi, bacteria, and the environment through the decomposition of dead plants, animal carcasses, animal excrement, and other wastes are called decomposer food chains. The decomposer food chain is also called the detritus food chain (1).
Example
Red mangrove leaves are decomposed in shallow water in south Florida mangrove forests. This type of decomposing leaves is used as food by small aquatic animals (nematodes, copepods). This type of tiny aquatic animal is eaten by small fish. These small fish are eaten by large carnivorous fish.
The microorganism of the decomposer food chain
In ecosystems, matter rotates in a cycle. Organisms such as dead plant or animal carcasses or parts of it, animal waste, etc. are decomposed by decomposers and detritivores. Through this decomposition, the nutrients contained in the biomass return to the environment and are reabsorbed by the plant. There are basically two types of microorganisms involved in the decomposition of organic matter (3).
1. Decomposer
Fungi, bacteria, and other dead organisms grow primarily on newly abandoned fossils. Under the influence of the enzymes secreted by the bodies of all these living organisms, the complex organic compounds of the biomass are simplified and energy is released with it. This process is called decomposition. The microscopic organisms that participate in the decomposition are called decomposers. Some of the energy and chemical nutrients produced as a result of the analysis are used to nourish and increase those nutrients, and the rest is returned to the environment (3).
2. Detritivores
Decomposing microorganisms turn organic matter and organic waste into a kind of semi-decomposed organic matter through analysis and decomposition. This is called detritus. The microorganisms that take these organisms as food are called detritivores. Detritivore microorganisms are eaten by the highest number of consumers (3).
Role of decomposer in the ecosystem
The decomposer is the most important place in nature after the producer. Without the consumer, the accumulation of dead organic matter would continue. As a result, the earth would run out of carbon dioxide, nitrate or phosphate, and other inorganic substances, which are essential for life. The decomposers break down organic waste and dead bodies of organisms and create essential life-sustaining materials.
Producers and consumers continue to reproduce in natural disruptions. Producers and consumers are accumulated in the environment at the time of death. The decomposers break them down and take oxygen from the atmosphere and produce carbon dioxide, and ammonium, which return to the atmosphere and to the reservoir. These decomposers and microscopic organisms play a vital and important role in maintaining ecological balance (4).
How the decomposer food chain forms
Like every food chain, this food chain is made up of producers and consumers. The structure of this food chain is discussed below (1) & (2).
1. Producer
Those who can make their own food, and do not depend on any other plants or animals for food, are the producers of the ecosystem. Green plants are the producers of almost all ecosystems. But this ecosystem has a few exceptions. Decomposing organic matter is the main producer of this ecosystem. They use some of the food they produce for their own physiological purposes and transport the rest to the next level.
2. Primary consumer
The primary consumer of the decomposer food chain is a variety of insects and decomposers. They nourish their bodies by taking food from decomposing organic matter. These primary consumers in the decomposer food chain are called detritivores. However, insects in this food chain consume less than 10% of the primary production. The remaining 90% of the primary production is dissolved by the decomposer.
3. Secondary consumer
Secondary consumers are those who consume the food energy of primary consumers to nourish their bodies and survive. Small fishes are the secondary consumers of this food chain. All of these consumers take primary consumers or detritivores as food.
4. Tertiary consumer
Large carnivores or large fish are the tertiary consumers of this food chain. They feed on small fish and use the energy generated from that food for their own physiological process.
In this way, food energy flows step by step from a decomposing organic matter to the large carnivorous layer and this food chain is formed. When carnivorous or large fish die, they are decomposed by the decomposer in the ecosystem and returned to the environment.
Significance of decomposer food chain
1. The decomposer food chain has more energy flow than other food chains in the ecosystem.
2. The decomposer food chain helps solve inorganic nutrients. And decomposes dead organic matter and returns it to the environment.
3. The energy for this kind of food chain comes from dead and decomposed substances.
4. Compared to other food chains, decomposer food chains always have a flow of energy. The decomposer food chain has a constant flow of food energy.
5. There are some decomposers in the decomposer’s food chain that break down the remains of dead plants and animals and return their nutrients to the environment. In this way, decomposers play an important role in the ecosystem.
6. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for the organisms. Organisms cannot directly absorb gaseous nitrogen in the atmosphere. Plants take up nitrogen only when it is converted to ammonium or nitrate. This process of conversion of gaseous nitrogen to ammonium or nitrate is called nitrogen fixation. There are some decomposers in the decomposer food chain that cause nitrogen fixation (3). & (4).
Q&A
1. What is detritus?
When fungi and bacteria etc. partially decompose plant and animal carcasses, organic waste, and other organic matter. That incomplete semi-decomposed matter is called detritus (1).
2. What are detritivores?
Small microorganisms that survive by eating semi-decomposed or detritus are called detritivores. Such as earthworms, worms, ants, termites, etc. (3).
3. What is a decomposer?
There are some classes of fungi and bacteria that get nutrients from the carcasses of producers and consumers. They are called decomposers. They decompose carcasses and turn complex organic compounds into simple compounds (1).
4. What is the producer of a decomposer food chain?
Decomposed organic matter, dead plant, and animal remains, organism wastes, etc. are the producers of the decomposer food chain.
5. What is the difference between decomposers and consumers?
| Content | Decomposer | Consumer |
| 1.    Definition | The components of the ecosystem that decompose dead consumers and producers are called decomposers. | On the other hand, the elements of the ecosystem that consume food made by producers are called consumers. |
| 2.    Type | They are saprophytes | They are herbivores or carnivores. |
| 3.    Food type | They take simple food. | They eat complex food. |
| 4.    Classification | There is no classification of decomposers. | Consumers are divided into three groups according to the type of food taken. These are primary consumer, secondary consumer, and tertiary consumer. |
6. What is the primary consumer of a decomposer food chain?
The primary consumer of the decomposer food chain is detritivores (a variety of insects and decomposers).
7. Explain the cycle of nutrient flow in the ecosystem
The rotational flow of matter occurs through various geochemical cycles between inert and organic matter interconnected in the environment. Nutrients from plants are transmitted to the bodies of different animals. When that plant or animal dies, the bacteria in the environment decompose the carcasses, break down the complex organic compounds into simple compounds, and return those simple compounds to the environment. Plants use all these elements from the soil for food production. In this way, the rotation occurs from the plant to the consumer and decomposer and again from the soil to the plant (4).
8. What is the difference between decomposers and producers?
Content |
Decomposer |
Producer |
| 1.    Definition | The components of the ecosystem that decompose dead consumers and producers are called decomposers. | In the ecosystem, those who can make their own food. They do not depend on others for food. They are called producers. |
| 2.    Collection of nutrients | Decomposer collects nutrients from the dead bodies of plants and animals. | Producers supply their nutrients through photosynthesis. |
| 3.    Binding of solar energy | They cannot bind solar energy to the body. | They can bind solar energy to the body. |
| 4.    Presence of chlorophyll | They do not have the presence of chlorophyll in their body. so they cannot synthesize food | Due to the presence of chlorophyll in their body, they are capable of synthesizing food. |
| 5.    Community | They belong to the saprophytes community. | They belong to the autotrophs community. |
| 6.    Food analysis | They collect complex elements from the carcasses of plants and animals and turn them into simple elements. | They collect simple elements from the environment and prepare complex food with the help of solar energy |
