Decay

• What are the factors affecting decay?

  • Temperature - chemical reactions happen faster at higher temperatures, but enzymes denature at too high temperatures
  • Moisture - biochemical reactions happen in solutions, moisture prevents things from dying out
  • Oxygen - aerobic respiration produces energy that is required for the reactions of decay. Some decomposers are anaerobic, but they're the minority
• What is parasitism?

  The relationship where one organism benefits by feeding off a host organism, causing harm to this host.
• What does mutualistic mean?

  Organisms that live together and both benefit from the relationship are said to have a mutualistic relationsip
• What is an example of a mutualistic relationship?

  Flowers and insects have a mutualistic relationship. The flowers get pollinated and the insects get food
• Explain why the relationship between coral polyps and algae is a mutualistic one:

  Algae survives better inside of the polyp - it's a safe place to live. Coral polyps get the food that the algae makes through photosynthesis
• What is a carbon sink?

  Where carbon is "locked up" - fossil fuels combine with other elements in rocks dissolved in water
• What is a detritus feeder?

  Detritus feeders (maggots, worms, beetles) eat dead animals and produce waste material (faeces and urine)
• What is a decomposer?

  Decomposers (bacteria and fungi), break down dead organisms and waste material into small molecules by decomposition or rotting.