Detritivore

A detritivore is an organism that feeds on detritus. Detritus is dead particulate organic material, including decaying plant matter, animal remains, and fecal matter. Detritivores play a vital role in ecosystems by breaking down this organic waste, recycling nutrients, and returning them to the environment. They differ from decomposers, which are primarily microorganisms that break down organic matter at a microscopic level. Detritivores often ingest larger pieces and accelerate the decomposition process.

Detritivore meaning with examples

• Earthworms, as detritivores, consume decaying leaves and organic matter in the soil, aerating it in the process. Their activity contributes significantly to soil fertility by creating tunnels that improve oxygen flow and nutrient distribution throughout their environment, accelerating plant growth.
• Millipedes, with their multiple legs, are efficient detritivores, feeding on fallen leaves and wood. They contribute to nutrient cycling in forests by breaking down complex organic matter into simpler compounds, making nutrients available for other organisms, such as trees.
• Sea cucumbers are crucial detritivores in marine ecosystems, consuming sediment and organic debris on the seabed. Their feeding activities help to filter and clean the water, as well as recycle the nutrients contained in the detritus they ingest.
• Hyenas are detritivores, consuming carrion and bone remnants left by predators. They play an essential ecological role by removing decaying carcasses, which helps prevent the spread of diseases and reduces competition among other scavengers.
• Fiddler crabs are common detritivores on the mudflats, consuming decaying organic material. They help break down this material into smaller pieces, thus contributing to the flow of nutrients in the coastal food web and also aerating the soil with their burrows.