In that litter layer, as in the compost heap, decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, aided by earthworms and small insects, break down the remains of plants and animals, obtaining energy for their own life processes and liberating nutrients in a form available to plant roots.
(bacteria and fungi; aided; by earthworms and small insects) (decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi; break down; the remains of plants and animals; L:In that litter layer) Context(decomposers , such as bacteria and fungi break down,List([46, 136))):(decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi; break down the remains of plants and animals liberating; nutrients)
decomposers , such as bacteria and fungi break down,List([46, 136))
bacteria and fungi decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi
aided break down break down the remains of plants and animals liberating
by earthworms and small insects
the remains of plants and animals L:In that litter layer
nutrients