Trace how bacteria and fungi digest dead organic matter or faeces, obtain energy from carbon compounds and return inorganic nutrients to ecosystem cycles in IB Biology SL C4.2.5.
Food chains combine to form food webs in an ecosystem.
Describe the role of decomposers in ecosystems.
a. decomposers are bacteria/fungi/invertebrates;
b. break down dead organic matter / faeces;
c. release/recycle minerals/nutrients (into the environment);
For b. there MUST be a reference to the matter being dead / deceased etc. but we can accept other clear references.
Marking guidance:
Do not accept reference to recycling carbon alone as this is not a unique property of decomposers.
2
max