Which term describes an organism that feeds on decaying plant and animal matter?

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Study for the 9th Grade Biology SOL Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term describes an organism that feeds on decaying plant and animal matter?

Explanation:
Feeding on detritus is a specific way organisms obtain energy in ecosystems. An organism that consumes decaying plant and animal matter is called a detritivore. Detritivores physically ingest and digest the detritus, breaking it into smaller pieces and helping recycle nutrients back into the environment. This differs from decomposers like bacteria and fungi, which chemically break down organic material to release nutrients, and from scavengers, which eat mostly recently dead animals. Producers, on the other hand, make their own food using sunlight. So the term for an organism that feeds on decaying plant and animal matter is detritivore.

Feeding on detritus is a specific way organisms obtain energy in ecosystems. An organism that consumes decaying plant and animal matter is called a detritivore. Detritivores physically ingest and digest the detritus, breaking it into smaller pieces and helping recycle nutrients back into the environment. This differs from decomposers like bacteria and fungi, which chemically break down organic material to release nutrients, and from scavengers, which eat mostly recently dead animals. Producers, on the other hand, make their own food using sunlight. So the term for an organism that feeds on decaying plant and animal matter is detritivore.

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