Decomposers




BIO226 : Ecosystem : Energy : Decomposers

Web Activity: Decomposers

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DUE: 16-Apr-99. Work sent after this date will receive a grade of zero.

In terrestrial ecosystems, especially in forests, most of net primary production goes through the detritus food web. Organisms come from numerous phyla and interact in complex ways.

1. What are the three groups of microbial primary consumers in the soil food web? How do their niches seem to differ (complement one another) with respect to their substrates and environmental factors?

2. The carbon:nitrogen ratio for both microorganism and substrate has an important influence on decomposition.

a) What is the C:N ratio?

b) How does the C:N ratio determine whether mineralization or immobilization will occur?

3. What trophic functions do protozoa, mites, and enchytraeids play in the soil decomposition food web?

4. How many stages (and different species) of decomposers are estimated to participate in the decomposition of conifer needles?

5. What is lignin? What is its origin? Why is it called recalcitrant?

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