What is the difference between Detritivores and Decomposers? - ProProfs Discuss
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What is the difference between Detritivores and Decomposers?

What is the difference between Detritivores and Decomposers?

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Asked by Demi , Last updated: Nov 19, 2024

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5 Answers

J. Alfie

J. Alfie

I Write for myself and many other clients. Blog post, Article writing and writing for ProProfs is my daily thing.

J. Alfie
J. Alfie, Content Writer, Masters in Literature, Dallas,Texas

Answered Dec 04, 2020

A decomposer is a term for organisms that break down diseased or decaying organisms. The decomposers are accountable for the decomposing process of a dead organism. Decomposers are heterotrophic, which means they utilize organic substances as sources of energy, carbon, and critical nutrients for their advancement and growth. On the other hand, the detritivores may well also be deemed heterotrophic.

However, detritivores are a group of decomposers. Detritivores are a branch decomposer, and they can either be classified into two groups. These include fungi and detritivores, and the most considered decomposers are fungi, which breakdown dead organisms. They use chemical compounds to consume the dead organism. Decomposers are responsible for breaking down the parts of the carcass into simpler substances.

The detritivores then scavenge the remains that the decomposing organic matter and is termed detritus, while the decomposers break down the organic substance from the decaying organism. The detritivores recover the decomposing organic material. Another difference between them is that most decomposers are bacteria or fungus, while the detritivores come in different forms. These include worms, millipedes, woodlice, dung flies, and slugs in the terrestrial aspect, while there are detritivores in the water. Both play a significant role in the life cycle in the ecosystem.

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Steinn

Steinn

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Steinn
Steinn , Corporate employee, Graz

Answered Nov 27, 2020

Decomposers do not eat their food like other organisms. Rather, they would decompose the organic items externally. This means that they would be consuming the nutrients that come from the items that they are decomposing at a more molecular level. Detritivores are going to be different in the sense that they would need to eat the items that they would be decomposing. They would then excrete the nutrients that are available. Some examples of decomposers are fungi and bacteria. Detritivores normally like to consume dead plants and animals but other organic materials will do. Some examples of detritivores are sea cucumbers, slugs, and even millipedes.
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C. Bernthal

C. Bernthal

Its kind of my job to give answers

C. Bernthal
C. Bernthal, Teacher, MA, P.hD, Seattle

Answered Aug 13, 2020

A decomposer is a general term for organisms that break down already dead or deceased organisms. The decomposers are responsible for this process. Decomposers are heterotrophic, which means they eat organic material for energy, and vital nutrients for their advancement and growth. On the other hand, detritivores may also be considered heterotrophic.

However, detritivores are a group of decomposers. Detritivores are, in a sense, decomposers. The decomposers can either be assembled into two different categories, including fungi and detritivores.

They are the masterminds of decomposition. They use chemical compounds to eat the dead organism. These use potent enzymes to breakdown the components of the organism and transforms them into simpler substances.

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Christian Jackson

Christian Jackson

Christian Jackson
Christian Jackson, Content Developer, Austin

Answered Aug 11, 2020

Decomposers is a general term for organisms that break down decomposed organisms. Detritivores is a type of decomposer like the fungi, microorganisms and bacteria.

Detritivores and decomposers are heterotrophic that performs the same action in different ways. Detritivores consume rotting or decomposed materials to examples of detritivores are worms, dung fillies, millipedes, slugs, sea stars, sea cucumbers and crabs.

Decomposers break down the dead organism while the detritivores consume the decaying organisms. Detritivores is fed by an organic matter called detritus. Detritivores can be found in all tropical levels; they can be found as particulate organic material in the environment.

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B. Denton

B. Denton

Who wants to travel all the world and capture all the moment in his camera.

B. Denton
B. Denton, Traveler, journalism, Greater Manchester

Answered Jul 29, 2020

Decomposers are known to not eat the things that they are decomposing for food. They are able to decompose the different things externally. They will be able to get the food that they need at a more molecular level. Detritivores, on the other hand, will be able to eat a large number of materials, and they will be able to get the nutrients that they need from the food that they eat.

This is obviously one of the main differences between the two. Decomposers will be able to feed on the materials by breaking down the organic matter that can be found on those materials. Detritivores will feed on some detritus particles that are available.

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