Decomposition: Microbial Succession Timeline (2D)

Environment

Temperature 20 °C

Moisture 60%

Initial nutrient richness 70

Aeration (burial depth) 70%

Time speed 2.0×

Live readouts

Elapsed

0.0 d

Dominant guild

—

O₂ level

100%

7.0

How it works

This is a deliberately simplified companion model (3 guilds, not 4, and no predator term) of the same real process as the 3D version: ecological succession in decaying matter, where each decomposer wave changes the chemistry the next wave needs. Aerobic bacteria bloom first and burn through oxygen; as O₂ falls, anaerobic bacteria take over and acidify the substrate through fermentation; as bacterial biomass and acidity build up, fungi — which tolerate acidic, low-O₂ conditions — become dominant. Temperature scales every rate (Q10≈2), moisture peaks at an intermediate value, and aeration (how exposed vs. buried the matter is) sets how fast consumed O₂ is replenished. Click the drawn decaying object to add a fresh pulse of matter.

Drag chart to pan · scroll to zoom · click the object to feed it

Aerobic bacteria Anaerobic bacteria Fungi