EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Fungi decompose organic matter by releasing enzymes to break down the decaying material, after which they absorb the nutrients in the decaying material. Hyphae are used to break down matter and absorb nutrients and are also used in reproduction.

Detailed explanation-2: -Fungi release enzymes that decompose dead plants and animals. Fungi absorb nutrients from the organisms they are decomposing! There are over 50, 000 species of fungi. Most fungi are very, very small!

Detailed explanation-3: -Fungi secrete enzymes that can break down complex organic compounds like carbohydrates and proteins into simpler components with the release of energy. These fungal decomposers, alongside their saprobic bacterial allies, absorb only a small amount of these nutrients and energy for their own use.

Detailed explanation-4: -To break down lignin, white rot fungi use strong enzymes, proteins that speed up chemical reactions. These enzymes split many of lignin’s chemical bonds, turning it into simple sugars and releasing carbon dioxide into the air.

Detailed explanation-5: -Most decomposers are microscopic organisms, including protozoa and bacteria. Other decomposers are big enough to see without a microscope. They include fungi along with invertebrate organisms sometimes called detritivores, which include earthworms, termites, and millipedes.