Energy Cycling. Energy Flow within an Ecosystem Sun Producers Primary Consumer Secondary/Tertiary Consumer Decomposers Heat Chemical Energy Solar Energy.

Energy Cycling

Energy Flow within an EcosystemSun

ProducersPrimary

Consumer

Secondary/TertiaryConsumer

Decomposers

Heat Heat Heat

Heat

Chemical Energy

Chemical Energy

Solar Energy

Organic Waste

Organic Waste

Organic Waste

Heat

Decomposition/Decay

Decomposers are usually put at the bottom of a food web, but they are very important because they cycle biomass.

Decomposers

consume dead plants & animals (biomass) to recycle them back to nutrients for producers

Biomass• Biomass is organic matter left behind when organisms die or as a

byproduct of some industries.• Decomposers cycle biomass back into the food web by converting

this organic matter into carbon dioxide and nutrients.• Energy is released in the form of heat during this process.• Biomass is also considered a renewable energy source!

Nutrients that decomposers recycle back into the soil:

Water Carbon

Nitrogen Phosphorus

These are essential to all life but are only present in finite amounts throughout the world hence the need for cycling of nutrients in ecosystems

Decomposers: Bacteria

-Unicellular organisms

-Can break down just about any type of organic matter

-Live on land, air and sea

-1 gram of soil (about a paperclip’s weight) contains 40 million (40,000,000)bacterial cells!

Decomposers: Fungi

-Are not plants

-Does include molds

-Fungi release enzymes to decompose decaying material -Fungi grow on hyphae:unseen strands beneath the surface of the material they are decomposing

Fungi in action!

Mold growth over a decaying peach

Life of Fungi

&

What are some things we could compost?• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0En-_BVbGc

Earthworms• Earthworms act as scavengers• Earthworms breathe through

their skin • They do not have eyes but do

have light & touch sensitive organs

• Earthworms are hermaphroditic which means they have both male and female organs

CompostingControlled Decomposition – in your backyard!

HumusMature compost ready to deliver the nutrients from decomposed materials back to producers.

Composting requires a mixture of –

1. Browns – carbon source

2. Greens – nitrogen source

3. Water

leaves, branches

grass,food scraps

4. Air

• Worms are nature’s ultimate recyclers!• Worm composing or vermiculture is just

like composting, only red worms do the decomposing. • Red worms can eat their weight in organic

matter every day.• They leave behind casings or casts that are

rich in nutrients.

worms

Why Compost?

Think of different reasons that the composting cycle is important to YOU!

Why Compost?Turn dead organic waste (biomass), like dead leaves and table scraps, into a healthy, natural fertilizer for your gardens and lawns. The humus can replenish nutrients in the soil. Results:• Higher crop yields• Enrich soil• Cleaner soil & air• Suppress plant diseases• Reduce waste without a

landfill!

The Big Picture:

Cycle of Matter

Organic Waste

DecomposersCompost

Replenish Soil Cycling of

Nutrients