Humans change environments in ways that can be either beneficial or detrimental for themselves and other organisms. Changes in environments can be natural or influenced by humans. Some environmental changes occur slowly, and others occur rapidly. Decomposers are a vital link in the natural cycle of life and death. Through decomposition, minerals and nutrients, once useful to their plant or animal hosts, are released and recycled.
Decomposition is the natural breaking down of organic materials.
It is the main way that nutrients are recycled into the soil. In the process of decomposition, complex molecules are reduced to simple molecules. The decomposition of organic matter begins with large organisms in the soil such as earthworms, beetles, and slugs. These organisms break down the organic matter into smaller pieces that smaller organisms like fungi and bacteria can further decompose. As decomposers break down organic materials, they release the nutrients back to the soil to be used by the next generation of plants, and the cycle begins again.