Which term best describes organisms that break down dead matter and recycle nutrients?

• A. Decomposer
• B. Detritivore
• C. Scavenger
• D. Producer

Answer: (A)

Breaking down dead matter and recycling nutrients is done by decomposers. These organisms secrete enzymes that break apart the large, complex molecules in dead organisms and waste into simpler, usable nutrients, releasing them back into the soil, water, or atmosphere for other organisms to use. Fungi and many bacteria are classic examples, turning litter and waste into forms that plants can absorb again. Detritivores, like earthworms, help by physically fragmenting material, but the key idea here is the chemical breakdown and recycling of nutrients, which is the specialty of decomposers. Scavengers feed on decaying matter but don’t primarily break it down to recycle nutrients, and producers create their own organic matter from energy sources.