An organism that breaks down dead material and recycles nutrients is called a

An organism that breaks down dead material and recycles nutrients is called a

• A. Predator
• B. Prey
• C. Scavenger
• D. Decomposer

Answer: (D)

Understanding how nutrients move through ecosystems shows that some organisms specialize in breaking down dead material and returning nutrients to soil and water. An organism that breaks down dead material and recycles nutrients is called a decomposer. Decomposers, like certain fungi and bacteria, digest dead tissues and waste, releasing minerals that producers can reuse. This role is different from a predator, which hunts and kills living organisms for food, and from prey, which are the organisms that get eaten. Scavengers feed on dead matter, but the essential recycling of nutrients comes from decomposers who chemically break down material into simpler substances that plants can absorb.

Understanding how nutrients move through ecosystems shows that some organisms specialize in breaking down dead material and returning nutrients to soil and water. An organism that breaks down dead material and recycles nutrients is called a decomposer. Decomposers, like certain fungi and bacteria, digest dead tissues and waste, releasing minerals that producers can reuse. This role is different from a predator, which hunts and kills living organisms for food, and from prey, which are the organisms that get eaten. Scavengers feed on dead matter, but the essential recycling of nutrients comes from decomposers who chemically break down material into simpler substances that plants can absorb.