There are creatures in nature whose main function is to destroy organic matter. What is the role of destroyers in environmental communities? They are designed to decompose the remains of animals and plants (organic tissues) into inorganic minerals, gases. Thus, these useful creatures, according to the ingenious idea of nature, provide the necessary other participants in the process and close the cycle of substances.
Who are they?
Who are these creatures created by nature for functional and obligatory destruction, what is the role of destroyers in ecological communities? These in each of the ecological systems include:
- numerous types of bacteria;
- mushrooms;
- soil worms;
- grinder beetles and grave diggers;
- some species of carrion-eating animals.
All these representatives of various kingdoms feed on the remains of plants and animals. As a result of such activities, organics are converted into minerals and gases, which are necessary for other participants in ecological communities.
Functional differences
The ecosystem includes many plants and animals. And their functions are different from each other. Conventionally, there are three large groups:
- Manufacturers
- Consumers
- destroyers.
The first are green plants. They create (produce) organic matter from carbon dioxide using the energy of the sun. A side effect of this phenomenon, called photosynthesis, is the formation of a large amount of oxygen, which is necessary for animals and humans to breathe.
Consumers (fauna) feed on plants and other species of animals, forming food chains.
What is the role of destroyers in environmental communities? They decompose and transform dead organics. Thus, they close the cycle of substances in nature.
Circulators
Destroyers in nature are alpha and omega of any ecological system. Destroyers, it all starts and it all ends. Plants obtain minerals and carbon dioxide from soil and air for their growth and reproduction, provided by reducers. Herbivores feed on representatives of the flora, thereby forming the initial links of food chains and the base of the pyramids. Predators provide food through the consumption of animal flesh. Someone is at the very top of the food pyramid, someone is at its very base. But all are not eternal and someday, later or earlier, they die. And here destroyers come into action again, which convert organic materials into inorganic ones, thus completing the cycle of substances in nature.
Microorganisms
The so-called decay and decomposition bacteria are a great natural army, the main task of which is to utilize organic matter, release gas and minerals, which then serve as food for plants. There are a great many species of such bacteria. Among them: bacilli, spore-forming clostridia, non-spore-forming enterobacteria. The most famous example is hay stick, well studied by science.
Saprophytes
These types of mushrooms use as a diet the remains of plant and animal organics: feathers and horns, fallen leaves, humus, branches, manure and more. These creatures are sometimes harmful to humans: microscopic saprophytes (destroyers) settle on food and make them unsuitable for food.
What is the role of destroyers in environmental communities: examples
On trees, old and susceptible to diseases, as a rule, destroyers begin to start the process: mushrooms and mold, worms, grinder beetles. When a tree falls and dies, the role of bacteria and fungi is to release nitrogen and minerals, thereby providing a new base for new young plants.
When any animal dies in the forest, the same decaying bacteria begin to convert its flesh into an inorganic. And for this alone they need to say thank you very much. After all, if not for their activities, then the planet would have been simply littered with the corpses of animals and plants that died during the entire period of its existence.