detritív

Detritív, or detritivore, refers to an organism that feeds on detritus—non-living organic matter such as dead plants, animal remains, feces, and other decaying material. Detritív play a central role in many ecosystems by transforming coarse detritus into smaller particles that microbes can readily exploit. In this way they contribute to decomposition and nutrient cycling, help release minerals locked in organic matter, and influence soil structure and fertility. They are distinct from decomposers like fungi and bacteria, which primarily break down organic compounds chemically; detritív physically fragment material through feeding and ingestion, while decomposers act largely through enzymatic decomposition after detritív processing.

Detritív occur in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Common terrestrial examples include earthworms, woodlice (isopods), millipedes, dung beetles, and various insect larvae and nematodes. In aquatic systems, amphipods, isopods, certain insect larvae, and other small crustaceans feed on leaf litter and other detritus that washes into streams and ponds. Detritív can occupy a range of feeding strategies from shredding to scavenging to grinding detritus in mouthparts.

Detritív form a major portion of the energy base in detritus-based food webs. Their activity, together with microbial decomposition, governs the rate at which organic matter is converted into inorganic nutrients and carbon dioxide. Environmental factors such as moisture, temperature, and substrate quality strongly influence detritív abundance and activity.

Understanding detritív is important for managing soils, forests, and aquatic ecosystems, as detritivory affects soil structure, fertility, and carbon cycling.