Objective

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain

the role of decomposers
 Introduction
● Living organisms remove material from the
environment for growth and other purposes.
● For example, plants take elements like oxygen,
carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen from the soil and air.
● These elements are turned into complex compounds
that make up the organism, such as proteins,
carbohydrates and fats.
● These complex molecules (and the elements that they
are made out of) pass through the food chain.
 Decomposition
● When an organism produces a waste product
or dies, the elements in the complex
molecules are returned to the environment.
● They are returned into the environment
through a process known as decay.
● Decay is also known as decomposition or
rotting
● When organisms decay, their bodies break
down into simpler chemicals that made it up.
 Decomposers
● Microorganisms such as
fungi and bacteria cause
decay.
● They are known as
decomposers.
NB: decomposers are
examples of heterotrophs
 Importance of Decomposition
● Decomposition is a crucial process as it ensures
that materials such as carbon and mineral ions
are recycled and returned to the environment.
● Remember, there is a finite (fixed) number of
elements on Earth, new atoms cannot be created
out of nothing!
 Importance of
Decomposition
● Often these nutrients enter the soil
and can dissolve in water where
they are then taken up by the roots
of plants, or they can be absorbed
through the water by algae.
 How do Decomposers Work?
● Decomposers break down waste products from organisms, as
well as dead organisms.
● They releasing enzymes onto the waste/dead organisms.
● The enzymes break the complex molecules that are present in
the waste products/dead material into smaller molecules.
● Decomposers then absorb the digested, smaller food
molecules.
● Organisms that feed on dead material in this way are called
saprophytes.
Detritivores
 Detritivores
● A detritivore is an organism that survives on a
diet of dead and decaying plant and animal
matter.
● This decaying organic material is also known as
detritus, which is what gives this group of
animals their name -
○ detriti (from detritus) + vore ('one who eats').
NB: detritivores are examples of heterotrophs
 Diet of Detritivores
● The diet of detritivores is very diverse and may
include:
○ Dead animal carcasses
○ Fallen tree trunks
○ Dried foliage and flowers
○ Rotting fruits and seeds
○ Animal fecal matter
 Importance of Detritivores
● These other larger organisms help speed up decay
by feeding on dead matter and breaking it down
into smaller pieces, so increasing the surface area
for the bacteria and fungi.
● They also prevent a build-up of organic waste
materials, dead plants and animal on the Earth’s
surface
 Detritivores on Land

Earthworms
Woodlice
 Detritivores in Water

Lobster
Sea Cucumber
Activity
 For this activity, identify whether or not the highlighted organism in
each of the given scenarios is a detritivore. Write detritivore or not a
detritivore in the blank space provided.

1. Most dung beetles are brown to black in color and feed

primarily on fecal matter. _________________________
detritivore
2. A cow's stomach is made up of four compartments that
not a detritivore
effectively digest grass.___________________________
3. Black bears are furry creatures that love to eat grasses and
occasionally eat meat. _________________________
not a detritivore
4. Springtails are present within leaf litter and other habitats
where decaying material is present. __________________
detritivore