rangelands
Decomposition in Drylands: Soil Erosion and UV Interactions
Death is an integral part of the cycle of life. In ecosystems, plants acquire inorganic compounds from their environment (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.) and build them into complex organic compounds that nourish animals either directly (e,g,, herbivores than consume plants) or indirectly (carnivores that consume herbivores). Eventually, all plants and animals in the ecosystem die. What is the fate of the nutrients they have accumulated during their life-time?
