Are bacteria decomposers? What is their role in the energy cycle?
In some cases bacteria act like decomposers. For example, the bacteria E. coli breaks down food in your stomach, and L. acidophilus turns milk into yogurt. Bacteria play the important role of recycling nutrients that are important to producers. They are also used to break down and treat sewage waste. Bacteria are also very hardy. Some can live in extreme environments, places that are very hot, very cold, very salty, or have a high acid concentration—places where humans could not survive. Scientists believe that if life exists on other planets it may exist in the form of microscopic life like bacteria because of their ability to survive almost anywhere. How do earthworms and maggots fit into all this? We’ve all seen earthworms in the soil helping to break down dead plants and maggots wiggling around in rotting meat and dead animals. However, earthworms and insects like maggots are not considered decomposers. That’s because it’s actually the bacteria in their stomachs that act as decompo
