Question

How is the rate of decomposition affected by the nature of detritus and temperature?

Hint:

Decomposition is influenced by both the chemical composition of detritus and environmental factors like temperature. Warmer temperatures and nutrient-rich materials promote faster decay.

Answer 1

- Nature of detritus: Decomposition is faster when detritus (dead organic matter) is rich in easily degradable materials like proteins and sugars. Lignin and cellulose-rich materials decompose more slowly.
- Temperature: Higher temperatures generally increase the rate of decomposition by accelerating the activity of decomposers (bacteria and fungi), while lower temperatures slow down the process.