The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Decomposers (also called saprophages, meaning "corpse eating") are the organisms which perform the critical task of decomposition in nature. They include bacteria, fungi, and detritivores that break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem. Fungi are the dominant decomposers of plant material, and bacteria primarily break down animal matter. Decomposers secrete enzymes into plant and animal material to break down the organic compounds, starting with compounds such as sugars which are easily broken down, and ending with more resistant compounds such as cellulose and lignin. Rates of decomposition are faster at higher values of moisture and temperature. Decomposers thus perform a unique and important function in the recycling process in nature.