Decomposers
BacteriaBacteria(Bacillus) are one of the most common decomposers in the Sahara. Most decomposers don't survive the harsh climate conditions but Bacteria is able to survive because they are so small that they are airborn. Bacteria typically feeds on the waste of the heterotrophs giving them the necessary nutrients to survive, and then the Bacteria returns those nutrients to the soil. This organism relates with other organisms by decomposing the carcasses of their dead bodies. This relationship is called commensalism.
|
MillipedesMillipedes(Diplopoda) are burrowers. They like to bury them selfs so that they can stay moiost but that doesn't ork in the Sahara because the soil is too dry so these decomposers have adapted by burrowing into the soil next to tree roots so that they can stay moist from the tree water. This allows them to survive and put nutrients back into the soil for the trees to obtain. This organism relates with other organisms by consuming them. This kind of relationship is similar to parasitism but in this case this organism isn't living on or in its prey.
|
FungiFungi(Aminita Flavoconia), or mushroom, is one of the other most common decomposer. This decomposer appears on dead animals and it absorbs the nutrients from the decaying body. Then when the mushroom dies it puts those nutrients back into the soil or another decomposers consumes it. This organism relates with other organisms by providing them with food and decomposing dead organisms and their waste. This relationship is cincidered commensalism.
|
Sacred Scarab BeetleThe Sacred Scarab Beetles(Coleoptera) are fairly abundant in the Sahara. This beetle is known for balling up animal waste and rolling it back to its burrow. Then the female beetle lays eggs in the waste so that the larvae can eat the waste when it hatches. This beetle's niche is to reproduce and return nutrients from animals waste to the soil. This organism relates with other organisms by collecting their waste. This type of relationship is called commensalism.
|
EarthwormEarthworms(Lumbricina) that live in the Sahara have a hard time living in there because they need to stay moist. So they burrow down into the soil to get moisture but in order to find moisture they have to burrow down pretty far. These worms come up from the soil and feed on decomposing animals and plants. Then they return the nutrients back to the soil. This organism relates with other organisms by consuming their waste or their carcasses. This kind of relationship is called commensalism.
|