What are decomposers?

What are scavenger?

Decomposers and scavengers break down dead plants and animals. They also break down the waste (poop) of other organisms. Decomposers are very important for any ecosystem. If they weren't in the ecosystem, the plants would not get essential nutrients, and dead matter and waste would pile up.

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

Once a scavenger is done, the decomposers take over, and finish the job and break down the materials into smaller organic compunds. Many kinds of decomposers are microscopic, meaning that they can't be seen without a microscope. Others, like fungi, can be seen.

Different kinds of decomposers do different jobs in the ecosystem.