AboutRichard Ochs Expertise I can answer questions regarding basic ecology (grade
school through high school). I can also answer some
college level questions as long as they aren't extremely technical.
Experience I had been a Park Ranger/Naturalist at Grand Teton National Park for 3 summers. Prior to that I was a naturalist for 4 summers at Cattus Island County Park in New Jersey. I also graduated from Rutgers University with a BS in Natural Resource Management.
Education/Credentials BS in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University, with honors.
Awards and Honors Philip Alampi Scholar, Moorestown Rotary Scholar, Golden Key National Honor Society member.
Expert: Richard Ochs Date: 3/31/2008 Subject: Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling
Question What would happen to an ecosystem without decomposer's??
Answer Good question, Norma. Without decomposers, that would essentially stop the flow of energy within an ecosystem. For example, think of this energy flow:
Sun -> Willow bush -> Moose
Without decomposers, the energy flow would stop at the Moose because there isn't anything to turn either the Moose after it dies, or the Moose's waste, into usable energy for the rest of the ecosystem.
Now think about this one:
Sun -> Willow bush -> Moose -> decomposers -> soil -> Willow bush -> Moose
See how with the decomposers turning the Moose or it's waste into nutrients for the soil this energy flow now becomes a cycle.
Without decomposers we would have piles of vegetative matter, dead organisms, and their waste lying all over. We wouldn't have a planet as we know it at all without this cyclic flow of energy.
