Decomposers/Scavengers

When plants and animals die, they become food for decomposers and scavengers. Decomposers and scavengers break down dead animals and plants. They also break down the waste of these organisms. These two composers are very important for our ecosystem. If they didn't exist, plants would not get essential nutrients, and dead matter and waste would pile up.

The scavengers do their job before the decomposers. Scavengers are animals that find dead animals or plants and eat them. While they eat them, they break them down into small bits. Flies, wasps, and cockroaches are scavengers. Earthworms are also scavengers, but they only break down plants.

Once the scavenger is done, the decomposers takes over, and finish the job. Many kinds of decomposers are microscopic, which means they can't be seen without a microscope. Other, like fungi, mushrooms, and worms, can be seen. Some kinds of bacteria prefer breaking down meat or waste from carnivores. Actinolites can only break down dead plants or waste from herbivores. Some certain kinds of fungi prefer fruits and vegetables.