detritivori

Detritivori, or detritivores, are heterotrophic organisms that obtain energy by feeding on detritus—non-living particulate organic matter such as leaf litter, decaying organisms, feces, and other debris. They play a central role in many ecosystems by fragmenting and processing detritus, thereby accelerating nutrient cycling and energy transfer within detrital food webs.

Detritivores are distinct from decomposers. While detritivores ingest solid detritus and mechanically or enzymatically break it down inside their digestive systems, decomposers (primarily bacteria and fungi) primarily break down organic matter chemically and release inorganic nutrients, often after detritus has been pre-processed by detritivores.

Examples of detritivores span across environments. Terrestrial detritivores include earthworms, woodlice, millipedes, and various insect larvae that feed on leaf litter and other organic debris. Aquatic detritivores include amphipods, isopods, certain polychaete worms, and some echinoderms such as sea cucumbers. Detritivory also occurs in some fish and bird species that consume detrital material or the organisms associated with it.

Ecological roles of detritivores include physical fragmentation of detritus, soil and sediment aeration, and the creation of fecal pellets that enrich the detrital substrate for microbial action. Their activity often enhances soil structure, fertility, and carbon cycling. Many detritivores rely on symbiotic microbes in their guts to digest complex compounds like cellulose, contributing to the broader processing of organic matter. Detrital food webs are interconnected with microbial loops, supporting diverse higher trophic levels.