Henrietta told me that what happens under the snow is similar to what happens in your compost bin - the leaves decompose.
When leaves die and fall on the ground, they get broken down into tiny pieces by tiny organisms (living things) called decomposers, like earthworms, bacteria, and fungi.
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| Earthworms in fall |
First, the larger decomposers like earthworms use their bodies to break down the leaves into smaller pieces and mix them into the soil. They also eat bits of the leaves. The small pieces of leaves that are left behind can then get broken down by other decomposers like bacteria or fungi.
When the bacteria and fungi feed on the bits of broken leaves, they release the nutrients that were in leaves into the soil. This is very important, because in spring, new plants will use these soil nutrients to grow. It's nature's way of recycling!
But in winter, if it's too cold for me to stay outside, isn't it too cold for the decomposers too? Nope! Even though the air might be very cold, it's actually warmer under the snow (often about +1 to -3 °C). The snow acts like a blanket, keeping the soil warm so that the decomposers can stay active.
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| Bacteria and fungi, decomposing leaves all winter |
That's why, in spring, many of the dead leaves have disappeared - it's nature's way of cleaning up and recycling!
