Humus and decomposers

• Mushrooms, tiny insects, ants and beetles and many other microorganisms are found on dead and decaying matters of plants.

Fig. Mushrooms, a beetle 

• The organisms feed upon the dead plant and animal tissues and convert them into dark colored substance called humus.

Fig. Humus 

• The microorganisms which convert the dead plants and animals to humus are called decomposers.

Fig. Humus formed by decomposers 

• Humus can be found in the forest floor.
• Humus in soil is important because presence of humus ensures that the nutrients of the dead plants and animals are released into the soil.
• In turn, the roots of the living plants again absorb the nutrients from the soil.

Fig. Roots of plants 

• Vultures, jackals, insects, feed upon the dead animals in the forest and that is how the nutrients are recycled.

Fig. A vulture, a jackal 

• Beetles and grubs feed on the decaying heap of animal dropping and seedlings of herbs and shrubs also sprout.
• The decaying animal dung provides nutrients to the seedlings to grow.

Fig. Cow dung provides nutrition to the plants 

• Decomposers help in maintaining the supply of nutrients to the growing plants in the forest and hence the forest is dynamic living entity.