Food Webs and Ecosystems

Decomposers

The role of a decomposer is to break down dead organisms and then feed off them. The nutrients created by the dead organisms are returned to the soil to be later used by the producers. Once these deceased organisms are returned to the soil, they are used as food by bacteria and fungi by transforming the complex organic materials into simpler nutrients. The simpler products can then be used by producers to restart the cycle.
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These decomposers play an important role in every ecosystem. There are over 100,000 different types of decomposers on our planet. They have one of the most important jobs because they are responsible for feeding other organisms, such as producers and eventually consumers. They are the organism that completes the cycle.

Detritivores

These animals are scavengers that feed off decomposing organisms and their waste. Some of the species considered detritivores are snails, slugs, termites and earthworms. Decomposers such as fungi and bacteria are often referred to as "detritivous organisms." When these organisms help to break down other organisms, they return the nutrients to the soil for the producers to use.
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