Scavengers, Detritivores, and Decomposers Explained

scavengers vs detritivores

Both scavengers and detritivores consume and digest decaying matter. The difference is how much they consume.

Decomposers

Break down everything else Make vital nutrients available to primary producers. Most scavengers cannot consume bones, feathers, or fur of dead animals. Detritivores cannot consume wood or certain indigestible plant materials so decomposers do the rest.

decomposing process

Break down organic material into: carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium

Examples of Decomposer

Can be small: protozoa, bacteria, micro-organisms Large: Fungi

Detritivore vs Scavenger vs Decomposer

Detritivores and scavengers digest dead matter internally. Decomposers directly absorb nutrients through external chemical and biological processes. This process of external digestion and nutrient extraction makes them "saprotrophic organisms". Saprotrophs feed by a process known as absorptive nutrition, in which the nutritional material (e.g., dead organism or other nonliving organic matter) is directly digested by chemicals that are excreted (put out) by the saprotroph. The chemicals change the detritus into simpler molecules, which are then absorbed by the cells to feed the organism.

examples of detritivores

Earthworms, mites, snails, shrimp, crabs, slugs, beetles, flies, maggots

Scavengers

Feed on dead and decaying organisms. Most do not eat just carrion (rotten meat) to survive. First step in the recycling process Are generally bigger animals who eat dead things. Evolved to be able to digest rotting flesh. Are usually animals that are hunters, but if they come across an animal that died, they'll eat it. Some animals are only scavengers (vultures).

Are fungi autotrophs?

Fungi are heterotrophs and FASCINATING. Look up something that needs to be decomposed and, odds are, there is a fungus that can do the job.

Examples of Scavengers

Hhyenas, raccoons, coyotes, wolves, sharks, vultures, bears, lions, rats, skunks

Why do we need these organisms?

Imagine the world where no waste was removed. Dead animals, dead plants would be everywhere! Main purpose is to recycle. Bring nutrients back to the ecosystem after things have died. There is plenty of good nutrients available in the tissue of once-living things. It needs to be used. If not...what a waste Keep the area free of debris and dead organisms

Why would organisms adapt this way?

Less energy required to survive...don't need to hunt.

Vultures

No feathers on head - allows them to get their head into the decaying animal, but avoids getting anything stuck in their feathers. Lots of dangerous bacteria etc. in a decaying organism that can cause damage to the living. Have a strong sense of smell and sight.

Detritivores

Smaller organisms that live off of detritus (dead and decaying plant and animal matter - including feces). Do not eat on the same scale as scavengers. Can be confusing when comparing them to scavengers. Detritivores work away at the remains of what is left after the scavenger eats. (crumbs, small remains) For example, a wolf pack might devour an elk carcass. The detritivores would then move in and consume any remains to leave clean and polished bones.

Fungi Skills: trees

Wood is hard to decompose. Fungi are some of the few organisms that can take this process on. Lignin is what makes wood wood and ONLY fungi produce the enzymes necessary to decompose lignin, a chemically complex substance found in wood.