Detritivores

Detritivores are organisms that feed on detritus, the dead particulate organic matter produced by the activities of producers and scavengers. They ingest and digest this material, extracting energy and nutrients. In many ecosystems detritivores are a key component of detrital food webs, acting at the interface between primary production and higher trophic levels. They help convert large, bulky organic matter into smaller particles and mix material into the soil, enhancing aeration and enabling subsequent microbial decomposition.

Detritivores differ from decomposers in their feeding strategy. Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi typically break down organic matter enzymatically outside their bodies and absorb the soluble nutrients, whereas detritivores ingest solid material. In practice, many organisms perform both roles to varying degrees.

Common terrestrial detritivores include earthworms, woodlice, millipedes, beetle larvae, and fly larvae. In aquatic systems, detritivores include amphipods, isopods, some insect larvae, and certain crustaceans, as well as detritivorous fish and other omnivores. Their diets often include leaf litter, feces, and decaying plant and animal matter.

Ecologically, detritivores facilitate nutrient cycling by breaking down complex compounds, releasing minerals that plants can reuse, and contributing to soil structure and carbon storage. They form an essential bridge in energy flow, sustaining many predators and shaping ecosystem productivity.