Organisms that obtain nutrients by breaking down dead and decaying plants and animals are called

Decomposers and scavengers break down dead plants and animals. They also break down the waste (poop) of other organisms. Decomposers are very important for any ecosystem. If they weren't in the ecosystem, the plants would not get essential nutrients, and dead matter and waste would pile up.

There are two kinds of decomposers, scavengers and decomposers.

Scavengers are animals that find dead animals or plants and eat them. While they eat them, they break them into small bits. In this simulation, flies, wasps and cockroaches are scavengers. Earthworms are also scavengers, but they only break down plants.

Once a scavenger is done, the decomposers take over, and finish the job. Many kinds of decomposers are microscopic, meaning that they can't be seen without a microscope. Others, like fungi, can be seen.

Different kinds of decomposers do different jobs in the ecosystem.

Others, like some kinds of bacteria, prefer breaking down meat or waste from carnivores.

Actinolites only break down dead plants, including hard to break down plants and the waste of herbivores.

Others, like certain kinds of fungi, prefer fruits and vegetables.

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Herbivores

Plants

Omnivores

Carnivores

Decomposers

Pollinators

Ecodome

Back to the Beginning When plants and animals die, they become food for decomposers like bacteria, fungi and earthworms. Decomposers or saprotrophs recycle dead plants and animals into chemical nutrients like carbon and nitrogen that are released back into the soil, air and water.   The Mighty Bacteria Bacteria can be found everywhere. They live in the water, in the air and on land.  Bacteria are prokaryotic, which means they don't have a nucleus or a mitochondrea like other single-celled organisms. Bacteria are among the smallest forms of life on Earth. In fact, you may have up to 100 million bacteria in your body right now! Some bacteria are harmful and cause diseases like typhoid and cholera. Other bacteria are helpful. You have bacteria in your digestive tract that kills more harmful bacteria. Some ruminants like moose, sheep, and deer have bacteria in their stomachs that help them digest plants. Bacteria help turn milk into cheese, cucumbers into pickles and cabbage into sauerkraut. Other bacteria help decompose dead plants and animals.   You Scratch My Back Most species of legumes (alfalfa, lentils, beans, chick-peas, peas, peanuts) and bacteria have a symbiotic relationship. A symbiotic relationship is one in which two species benefit each other. The roots of most of these plants have a nitrogen-fixing bacteria, rhizobium,  that changes nitrogen in the air into the nitrates the plants need to synthesize proteins. Rhizobium bacteria invade the root hairs of the plants. They multiply and help root nodules grow. Then the bacteria changes free nitrogen, or the nitrogen from the air, to nitrates. Species in this order leave some of the nitrates in the soil, which can help other plants grow.

Fabulous Fungi Fungi like mushrooms, mildew, mold and toadstools are not plants. They don't have chlorophyll so they can't make their own food. Fungi release enzymes that decompose dead plants and animals. Fungi absorb nutrients from the organisms they are decomposing! There are over 50,000 species of fungi. Most fungi are very, very small!  There are many fungi that are helpful. Penicillin and other antibiotics are made from fungi. Some fungi like mushrooms, truffles and yeast are edible or used in making food. Other fungi are harmful.   Earth to Earth There are over 1,800 species of earthworms. They are hermaphroditic, which means they have both male and female organs. Earthworms need moist environments to survive. If they dry out, they have trouble burrowing into the soil and they will die. Earthworms eat dead plants and animals. When they eat, they also take in soil and tiny pebbles. They take in nutrients from microorganisms in the material they ingest. Earthworms then excrete wastes in the form of casts. Casts are rich in nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. In addition to breaking down organic materials and adding nutrients to the soil, earthworms also help loosen the soil so air can circulate. This helps plants grow. Images CC BY 3.0 US

Which is the organisms that absorbs nutrients from dead and decaying plants and animals?

What type of organism breaks down dead animals and plants?

What obtains food from dead and decaying plants and animals?