MFWB_A - Insects in Ecosystems Importance

polyphagous

ability to feed on various types of food

decomposers

important as 90% of plant matter needs decomposing in terrestrial ecosystems

decomposition

physical and chemical breakdown of organic matter into energy and inorganic nutrients

destruction

mechanical, wind, rain, decomposer fauna

dispersal

ingested, burial, wind, water, animal

degradation

particles converted to carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts, fauna, fungi, microorganisms

dung beetles

dung buried into or tunnelled under to provide food and shelter, support kleptoparasites, promote seed dispersal, help keep human pathogens low, process dung using specialised gut microbiome

australian dung beetles

feed on small, dry dung of marsupials, prehensile claws to cling to peri-anal hairs, beetles eliminate the habitats and food source of bush and buffalo flies on cattle dung by transporting phoretic mites that feed on their larvae

environmental and economic benefits

soil fertility and structure increases, improved water retention, C, N, P not washed away, carbon sequestration through burial of carbon dioxide emissions

termites

75% of all insect biomass, have symbiotic bacteria and protozoa that produce cellulolytic enzymes, produce rich soil - inorganic material for plants, produce macropores - allows water to infiltrate, reduce runoff,

why are termite mounds called islands of fertility?

mounds soil is chemically and physically better than surrounding - buffer against desertification

termite soil benefits for herbivores

more predators, carnivores, parasites therefore more pure and dead stuff to be broken down