dry ecosystems

An isopod, well adapted to the harsh conditions of arid regions, crawls on the desert floor in search of plant remains. Credit: Viraj R Torsekar

New research reveals the critical role of large insects in the decomposition process in desert ecosystems

The assumption until now was that the decomposition rates were mainly driven by microorganisms and decreased in drier environments. The new research reveals that large arthropods play a critical and hitherto unappreciated role in the systems