Decay

Question 1

What does decay do for the environment?

Answer 1

• Remove materials from the environment for growth and other processes
• These materials are returned to the environment in either waste material or when living things die and decay

Question 2

Why are materials able to decay?

Answer 2

• Because they are broken down (digested) by micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi)

Question 3

What are the pros of decay?

Answer 3

• In a stable environment, the processes which remove materials are balanced by processes which return material. The materials are constantly cycled.
• The decay process releases substances which plants need to grow
• You can create a compost with decaying things
• Provides nutrients for détritivores / decomposers

Question 4

What is required for decay to occur?

Answer 4

• Moisture, warmth, oxygen (microorganisms need to oxygen to respire and need moisture and wamth to be able to grow and reproduce)

Question 5

Pros of a compost heap

Answer 5

• improves soil structure
• Helps retain moisture and can suppress plant diseases
• Organic fertiliser
• Adds nutrients to soil
• Reduces landfill waste
• You can put in a compost heap: Cardboard, grass clipping, egg shells, paper, yard waste

Question 6

What are deritrivores?

Answer 6

• Small invertebrate animals that help the process of decay

Question 7

What are deritrivores?

Answer 7

• Small invertebrate animals that help the process of decay

Question 8

What do detritivores do?

Answer 8

• break up dead, organic material as they feed on it
• increase the surface area on which the decomposers can act so speeding up decays
• Earthworms not only increase the nutrient content of the soil, but aerate the soil by their tunneling.

Question 9

Prevention of decay

Answer 9

Freezing, drying, vacuum packing, canning, heating, pickling, salting