The crew that puts it back
Leaves fall. Animals die. Why is the ground not piled high with them?
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Step 1 of 3
- With decomposers, dead matter breaks down. Plants use it.
- Without decomposers, dead matter starts to pile up.
- After a longer time, the pile keeps growing.
The rule
Mushrooms and tiny bacteria feed on dead leaves and animals. So dead things do not pile up.
Mushrooms are fungi. Fungi and bacteria break dead plants and animals into simpler things. This is decomposition. These living things are decomposers.
The simple things go into the soil. Plants use them again. These simple things are nutrients. Plants take them from the soil to grow. Dung is animal waste. Beetles and flies on dung also help break it down.