Editing Decomposer (section)

=== Fungi ===
The primary decomposer of litter in many [[ecosystem]]s is [[fungi]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Godbold|first1=Douglas L.|last2=Hoosbeek|first2=Marcel R.|last3=Lukac|first3=Martin|last4=Cotrufo|first4=M. Francesca|author-link4=M. Francesca Cotrufo|last5=Janssens|first5=Ivan A.|last6=Ceulemans|first6=Reinhart|last7=Polle|first7=Andrea|last8=Velthorst|first8=Eef J.|last9=Scarascia-Mugnozza|first9=Giuseppe|last10=De Angelis|first10=Paolo|last11=Miglietta|first11=Franco|date=2006-03-01|title=Mycorrhizal Hyphal Turnover as a Dominant Process for Carbon Input into Soil Organic Matter|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3701-6|journal=Plant and Soil|language=en|volume=281|issue=1|pages=15–24|doi=10.1007/s11104-005-3701-6|bibcode=2006PlSoi.281...15G |s2cid=24926892 |issn=1573-5036|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Talbot|first1=J. M.|last2=Allison|first2=S. D.|last3=Treseder|first3=K. K.|date=2008|title=Decomposers in disguise: mycorrhizal fungi as regulators of soil C dynamics in ecosystems under global change|journal=Functional Ecology|language=en|volume=22|issue=6|pages=955–963|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01402.x|issn=1365-2435|doi-access=free|bibcode=2008FuEco..22..955T }}</ref> Unlike [[bacteria]], which are unicellular organisms and are decomposers as well, most [[saprotroph]]ic fungi grow as a branching network of [[hypha]]e. Bacteria are restricted to growing and feeding on the exposed surfaces of organic matter, but fungi can use their hyphae to penetrate larger pieces of organic matter below the surface. Additionally, only [[wood-decay fungus|wood-decay fungi]] have evolved [[Lignin-modifying enzyme|lignin-modifying enzymes]] necessary to decompose [[lignin]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Blanchette|first1=Robert|title=Delignification by Wood-Decay Fungi|journal=Annual Review of Phytopathology|date=September 1991|volume=29|pages=281–403|doi=10.1146/annurev.py.29.090191.002121}}</ref> These two factors make fungi the primary decomposers in [[forest]]s, where litter has high concentrations of lignin and often occurs in [[coarse woody debris|large pieces]] like fallen trees and branches. Fungi decompose organic matter by releasing enzymes to break down the decaying material, after which they absorb the nutrients in the decaying material.<ref name="berkeley">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/fungilh.html |title=Fungi: Life History and Ecology |first1=Ben |last1=Waggoner |first2=Brian |last2=Speer |work=Introduction to the Funge=24 January 2014}}</ref> Hyphae are used to break down matter and absorb nutrients and are also used in reproduction.