Decomposers and Detritivores are living organisms that are thought to be the same because they have the same diet. But they are not the same, they have different specifications and characteristics which makes them very different from each other.
Detritivores vs Decomposers
The main difference between Detritivores and Decomposers is that decomposers are microorganisms that decompose organic material whereas detritivores are organisms that feed on dead and decompose organic matter by oral ingestion. Also, decomposers are microorganisms and it has three types of detritivores, scavengers, and saprophytes.
Comparison Table Between Detritivores and Decomposers
| Parameter of Comparison | Detritivores | Decomposers |
| General | It is one of the three types of decomposers. | It is an organism. |
| Chemical process | Detritivores do not use chemical processes to decompose substances. | Decomposers use chemical processes to decompose substances. |
| The method used for breaking down | It breaks down organic material via oral digestion. | It breaks down organic material by releasing enzymes. |
| Consumption of Organic matter | Detritivores eat organic matter. | Decomposers secrete enzymes for the decaying of the dead. |
| Reason for Consumption | Detritivores consume detritus to obtain energy. | Decomposers’ main role is to break down the organic matter. |
| Organisms | Worms, crabs, etc. | Most bacterias and fungi |
What are Detritivores?
Detritivores are heterotrophic organisms and it gets nutrition by feeding on detritus, which is an organic matter consisting of dead plants and animals. Detritivores also use the feeding strategy which involves the consumption of feces, called coprophagy to get nutrition. Also, detritivores break down the organic matter by oral digestion and absorb its nutrients.
The maximum types of species which are detritivores don’t have bones like mites, beetles, butterflies, mollusks, earthworms, wood-lice, etc. Detritivores are also found in marine surroundings, some of them are crabs, lobsters, echinoderms like sea stars, and sea cucumbers. Many of the marine species have similar traits or roles in the ecosystem like terrestrial ones who live within the sea bed.
Detritivores play an important role in the ecosystem by decomposing dead and decaying materials. They contribute to the most important cycles of the ecosystem such as the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and phosphorous cycle. They feed on primary producers as well as herbivores and carnivores that is why they are present throughout all trophic levels in an ecosystem.
Detritivores also contribute to the ecosystem’s energy cycle as detritivores commonly get eaten by secondary consumers which also gives energy to the secondary users.
They are also important as they are responsible for the removal of the dead which can cause multiple diseases and infections.
What are Decomposers?
A decomposer is an organism that breaks down organic matter like the remains of dead organisms. These organisms are responsible for the decomposition of the dead which is quite important for the ecosystem. It basically recycles the organic matter present on the earth. Some examples of decomposers are fungus such as mushrooms, bacteria, etc.
Decomposers play a very important part in the ecosystem because they are responsible for breaking down and recycling organic matter. Actually, the decomposers do this decomposition process for themselves as well as they are heterotrophic and they need the energy to survive which they get from the organic matter which they decompose.
The dead provides nutrients for decomposers like bacteria and fungi which they utilize to grow and reproduce. The side effect of this surviving process is that the organic material and nutrients get cycled throughout the ecosystem as these bacteria and fungi later get consumed by other organisms for their survival.
Decomposition is a long process and there are certain stages of decomposition. When an organism dies it takes five stages to get decomposed, they are – Fresh, Bloat, Active Decay, Advanced Decay, and Dry/Remains.
The two main processes that play an important role in the decomposition are autolysis and putrefaction. Autolysis is the process in which the organism’s cellular enzymes break down its cells and tissues and putrefaction is a process the microbes grow and reproduce throughout the organism’s body. The five stages are:
Main Differences Between Decomposers and Detritivores
Conclusion
Decomposers are organisms that are responsible for the decomposition of organic matter. They are of three types detritivores, scavengers, and saprophytes. Decomposers are very essential for balancing the ecosystem as they recycle the organic matter.
Detritivores are heterotrophic organisms and it gets nutrition by feeding on detritus, which is an organic matter consisting of dead plants and animals. Detritivores also use the feeding strategy which involves the consumption of feces, called coprophagy to get nutrition. Also, detritivores break down the organic matter by oral digestion and absorb its nutrients.
References
ncG1vNJzZmiZo6Cur8XDop2fnaKau6SxjZympmeUnrOnsdGepZydXZeytcPEnqVmnJWpv6rAyK%2Bmq52jYq6vsIydnJynnaW8tLHRrGY%3D