Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery: Dead Things and Decompossers

Page 2 of 2

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002 ecompose wood.

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002 This closeup of the shelf-fungi shows how they stick out from the tree and are thin, with a pretty yellow color. Inside the tree are probably other creatures such as beetle larvae and ants. What can be found living inside dead trees in your own area? How do woodpeckers take advantage of the life in dead trees?

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002 The following is a sequence of photos that shows the decay process in a leaf. A fallen leaf may remain green like this one for several days, but eventually it will die and lose its green color. Notice the bits of material on the leaf surface: this leaf had microscopic plants living on it as well.

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002 When the leaf loses its green color, it is because the chlorophyll and other pigments have broken down to simpler matter. Now the leaf is brown, but it is still pretty much complete.

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002 As parts of the soft leaf material decay or are entirely eaten by decomposers, the tough parts of the leaf remain. The toughest part are reinforced with a material called cellulose.

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002 Now you can see the lacy architecture of the leaf. The thick, tough veins of a leaf give the leaf its shape and remain after the rest has decomposed.

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002 In the final stage of decomposition, this leaf was very delicate and like thin paper. I could see through this decomposing leaf. Soon it will break into tiny bits and disappear into the soil. Then the cycle of materials starts again: the matter of the leaf is now available to be used by other plant.

Previous Next

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002	ecompose wood.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002	This closeup of the shelf-fungi shows how they stick out from the tree and are thin, with a pretty yellow color. Inside the tree are probably other creatures such as beetle larvae and ants. What can be found living inside dead trees in your own area? How do woodpeckers take advantage of the life in dead trees?
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002	The following is a sequence of photos that shows the decay process in a leaf. A fallen leaf may remain green like this one for several days, but eventually it will die and lose its green color. Notice the bits of material on the leaf surface: this leaf had microscopic plants living on it as well.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002	When the leaf loses its green color, it is because the chlorophyll and other pigments have broken down to simpler matter. Now the leaf is brown, but it is still pretty much complete.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002	As parts of the soft leaf material decay or are entirely eaten by decomposers, the tough parts of the leaf remain. The toughest part are reinforced with a material called cellulose.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002	Now you can see the lacy architecture of the leaf. The thick, tough veins of a leaf give the leaf its shape and remain after the rest has decomposed.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002	In the final stage of decomposition, this leaf was very delicate and like thin paper. I could see through this decomposing leaf. Soon it will break into tiny bits and disappear into the soil. Then the cycle of materials starts again: the matter of the leaf is now available to be used by other plant.