What Is a List of Decomposers in the Ocean?
Some decomposers in the ocean include fungi in the genera Lindra and Lulworthia, the bacteria Vibrio furnissii, shipworms, nematodes and amoebas. Decomposers are an important component of the marine ecosystem, as they break down dead organisms and release nutrients from these organisms back into ocean.
In the ocean, fungi in the genera Lindra and Lulworthia break down dead seaweed in estuarine areas. Vibrio furnissii is a type of bacteria that breaks down the material chitin found in the shells of lobsters, crabs and other arthropods. Shipworms are a type of mollusc that decomposes wood, leaving behind calcium deposits. Nematodes break down seaweed that washes up along the shore. Amoebas are a type of microbe that decomposes both dead plant and animal marine life.
The majority of decomposition occurs on the floor of the ocean because organisms tend to sink after they die.
Some of the nutrients that decomposers help release back into the ocean are phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Organisms belonging to another class of marine life, the producers, then utilize these inorganic nutrients to produce organic matter. Phytoplankton are the major producers of the sea. Seaweeds are also oceanic producers. The producers are then eaten by marine consumers, some of which include copepods, larvaceans and protozoans.
