Examining a leaf soaking in my stagnant water sample, I was able to see the bacteria and microorganisms physically carrying out the disruption of a leaf structure. This leaf had been soaking in stagnant water for several weeks. The physical organization of cells was disintegrating. There are a few hints of the leaf's previous organization in subtleties of the cell layout, but the leaf has become a more or less disorganized collection of cells by now. Small protists and bacteria can be seen moving through what had been the leaf structure--now thin and disintegrated.
https://youtu.be/PuAnyT0Cjo8