Question

What is an organism that breaks down dead organisms and wastes to live and grow?

Answer 1

Hint: In our daily day to day life, we see a lot of plants and animals. And there are other living organisms around us which are not visible to us with naked eye. These are small microscopic organisms and are called microbes or microorganisms. They act as a friend and a foe both. These microbes are classified into four major groups. These are fungi, protozoa, bacteria and some algae. The friendly microorganisms help in the following processes like: making of curd and bread, fermentation, medicinal usage, vaccine formation, increasing soil fertility and cleaning the environment.

Complete answer:
Microbes like bacteria, fungi etc., break down the complex wastes into useful compounds. It is a natural process and this process is known as biodegradation or decomposition. Micro-organisms that break down complex organic matter into inorganic substances like water, carbon dioxide and nutrients are called decomposers. They are also involved in the process of loosening the soil. Detritus, the raw material for decomposition is composed of dead plant remains like leaves, bark of trees, flowers, and dead remains of animals including their fecal matter. These microbes also break down complex pollutants into simpler substances. The microbes are also known as detritivores e.g., earthworm known as farmer’s friend and it breaks down the detritus into smaller particles. The activity of soil microbes is affected by soil composition and temperature. The environment that favors decomposition is warm and moist whereas low temperature and anaerobiosis inhibit the process by resulting in buildup of more organic materials.

Note:
Steps involved in the process of decomposition are fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification and the last mineralisation. This process is largely oxygen requiring. The chemical composition of detritus and climatic factors are responsible for the rate of decomposition. The rate of decomposition is slower if the detritus is rich in lignin and chitin and it is quicker if it is rich in nitrogen and water-soluble substances like sugars. Climatic factors like soil moisture and temperature are most important that regulate decomposition.