What is the difference between scavengers and decomposers

Decomposers release the organic and inorganic molecules in the form of nutrients for the plants and animals. Thus, this process is vital for the recycling of the resources inside an ecosystem. Scavenger and decomposer are two types of organisms that are important for the functioning of an ecosystem. Scavengers are the animals that feed on dead plants, animals and carrion and break down them into small pieces. On the other hand, decomposers are the organisms that decompose the organic matter broken down by the scavengers.

Therefore, this is the key difference between scavengers and decomposers. Besides, the scavengers are large animals, but decomposers are more often microorganisms. However, fungi come in different sizes. So, this is another difference between scavenger and decomposer.

Furthermore, scavengers can break down large dead bodies into small pieces while decomposers can break down small pieces of dead material into molecular levels. Thus, this is also a difference between scavenger and decomposer.

Scavengers include animals such as birds, vultures, burying beetle, racoons, jackals, and hyenas, etc. Another difference between scavenger and decomposer is that scavenger initiates the decomposition by exposing interior matter to the outside by removing the skin, keratin layers, and scales of animals and barks of plants while decomposer completes it. Scavenger and decomposer are two types of organisms found in the environment.

Both are important for the functioning of an ecosystem. Scavenger is an animal that feeds on and breaks down dead animals, plants and carrion into smaller pieces. On the other hand, decomposer is an organism that breaks down small pieces of organic matter into much smaller molecules. Therefore, this is the key difference between scavenger and decomposer.

Furthermore, scavenger starts the decomposition process and decomposer depends on the broken down materials of scavengers and completes the decomposition process. Decomposers breakdown complex organic matter into simple substances like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water. Examples of decomposers are protozoa, millipedes, earthworms, termites, fungi, and bacteria.

Mushrooms are better examples since they obtain nutrients from dead plants or animals. Scavengers and decomposers play a role in the decomposition of organic matter. Scavengers are organisms that consume dead plants and animals and decomposers rely on dead animals and other organic matters like feces. The level of breakdown of organic matter is what distinguishes scavengers, detritus feeders, and decomposers. We hope the information provided in the article was helpful. Some birds such as vultures and crow are also scavengers.

Hyenas, coyotes, and polar bears are mammal scavengers. Crabs consume dead fish and shrimps. Insects such as dung beetle, red weaver ants, and flesh fly are the examples of scavengers as well. A flesh fly is shown in figure 1. Termites are plant scavengers that consume dead wood of the trees. Earthworms also rely on dead plants. Decomposer is a soil bacterium, fungus or invertebrate that decomposes organic material.

It can be also called a saprotroph , which recycles dead plants and animals into nutrients. Decomposers use eliminated materials or feces of scavengers as well. The main function of decomposers is to release nutrients back into the ecosystem from dead matter. Fungi are the major type of decomposers that grow on organic matter. They secrete digestive enzymes to the dead organic matter and digest it extracellularly.

The small nutrients are absorbed by fungi through their cell wall. The digested nutrients are also available for the plant growth. Fungi on a decaying tree trunk are shown in figure 2. Figure 2: Fungi on a Decaying Tree Trunk. Most soil bacteria also serve as decomposers.