As I was clearing out my desk at the end of term, I found a tiny, shrivelled, decomposing dried-up orange which had been hiding behind some paperwork since before Easter. It’s incredible how some fresh produce will go mouldy in days and some, such as citrus fruit, will dehydrate over time.
The scientist in me would quite like my STEM club to conduct an experiment on the rate at which different fruits breakdown and start decomposing. There are lots of variables to consider such as skin thickness, composition, and both natural or artificial protective features such as flavonoids, oils, or waxes. Supermarket lemons and other fruits are often waxed to maintain their appearance and freshness; common wax coatings include shellac, from a resin secreted by the female lac bug and beeswax, neither of which are strictly vegan.
As my classroom is not set up for handling biohazards this investigation might not be my best idea but seeing how things decompose is fascinating – if you don’t believe me, set up a time lapse series of photographs of a fruit bowl.
The World’s Best Clean-up Crew
I really think I might be a bit odd. Most people probably go through their day-to-day activities without spending much thought on decomposers, the organisms that break down dead or decaying organic material. I’ve mentioned them briefly before, but I’m entranced by them.
Decomposition as a process is essential for recycling nutrients back into the wider ecosystem, making them available for plants and other organisms. Decomposers include bacteria, fungi, some insects, and worms. Without these natural recyclers we would be buried under heaps of undecayed organic matter and soils would be depleted in the elements needed for new plant growth.
Whilst humans might complain about who is taking out the rubbish, dung beetles and earthworms are out there rolling up their metaphorical sleeves and dealing with leftover natural materials every day without complaint.
Decomposers help Hubster, the worm charmer, with his composting, but are way cooler and with more legs or no legs at all, in the case of wonderful worms. Nature can teach us a thing or two about life cycle analyses as there is no such thing as ‘waste’ in nature – which is an concept most humans seem utterly unable to grasp (our ‘zero plastic’ and ‘no food waste’ initiatives in school are presenting huge challenges, least of all as evidenced by the size of the rubbish bags dragged out of the staff room in the evenings).
Dung Beetles
Dung beetles collect and bury dung, which might not sound glamorous, but it’s an essential service for ecosystems. I don’t see them often but watching a dung beetle move a nugget of poop is even more engrossing than the latest hit series on Netflix and might gain a higher review on IMDB.
Worms
The much-maligned earthworm, of the phylum Annelida, is an unsung champion of soil health and was crowned ‘UK invertebrate of the year’. They burrow through the earth, aerating the soil and allowing water and nutrients to penetrate deeper. The castings they leave behind are rich in nutrients, making them a natural fertiliser. I’m very firm with my young gardeners on the value of worms.
Recently Pupil D tried arguing with me that if you chop a worm in two you get double the population of worms. He was just about to grab the scissors when I assured him it is in fact a myth. What you will end up with is either a completely dead worm, or a shorter worm and a remaining worm carcass which will decompose itself quite quickly.
Plant Your Pants
This header is not a typo. In the school garden, over the years, I’ve taught hundreds of children to appreciate that soils are full of life and that we rely on them to produce our food. Following a little microscope work, the best way to demonstrate soils are alive is through planting a pair of underpants. These need to be 100% cotton, maybe with a little elastic to hold them up. Bury them in Six Inches of Soil (that’s a great film by the way), wait two months then dig them up.
The healthier the soil, the more disintegrated the pants will be once they are dug up. It’s a way that children can discover life, both visible and invisible, in any patch of earth. There is even some scientific evidence that getting your hands covered in soil exposes you to microbes that improve mental health and have a natural antidepressant effect.
Maybe it was a bit harsh to write in Pupil K’s planner for calling it ‘dirt’ for the umpteenth time, but he really was getting right on my wick – it might hardly get a mention in the secondary science curriculum, but soil is absolutely invaluable. My end of term gift from the Eco Committee was a gorgeous wormery so maybe my persistence is having a bit of an impact!
Human life cycle
Recently I was teaching topics relating to the human life cycle. One pupil asked What happens when we die? As what happens after death is not strictly in the science curriculum, I thought about passing this question on to Mrs D in the RE department but decided to use the opportunity to extend their understanding about the ecology of decomposers instead. Years ago, I said I would like to be cremated and my ashes scattered over a mountain in North Wales.
Now, I’ve changed my mind. We know burning organic matter, such as a dead body, can lead to air pollution and carbon emissions. I told the class that now I think it’s better if I’m buried in a cardboard box with a tree planted on top of my remains. What ensued was a noisy discussion about worms going through my eye sockets and brain. Regret is a curious thing. For those worms that will eat me I salute you – I’m a tough old Bird, but I must request that I’m buried in cotton.
God Save the Worm!
Like many organisms in our natural world that we rely on, our beloved decomposers are in trouble. Scientists have been sounding the alarm about the decline in these populations for years. Many decomposer species, particularly insects, are declining at alarming rates. This decline is happening on a global scale and is primarily due to human activities.
The main factors are habitat loss as species need diverse environments to thrive, the use of pesticides, climate change when conditions are simply too wet or too dry, soil degradation through intensive farming practices and widespread pollution. These problems are leading to a vicious cycle of declining soil health and further loss of decomposer species none of which is good news.
Decomposers
Protecting insects and worms means safeguarding our soil, our food, our environment, and ultimately, ourselves. It’s time to push aside any aspect of squeamishness and positively praise decomposers. Plant a garden, avoid using pesticides (yes, I’m talking to anyone with a weed killing spray in their shed), and start a compost pile which is a five-star buffet for our nutrient recycling friends.
Decomposer species have been around for millions of years, they clearly know a thing or two about sticking around. So, let’s roll out a green mulch carpet for our decomposer allies and celebrate their crucial role in our world. I may struggle to pledge my allegiance to the royal family, but I remain totally devoted to the magnificent yet humble earthworm.
Note to self: Check what it says in my will around what to do with my body when I’m dead and gone. I think Hubster currently has to climb a mountain in Eryri National Park (aka Snowdonia), to scatter my ashes, he really wouldn’t be too chuffed as he has dodgy knees nowadays. All I’ll need is a cardboard box and maybe a walnut tree to pop on top of my remains. Walnuts symbolise universal wisdom which Hubster would probably find infuriating. This old Bird knows how to get the last laugh.
