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Scavengers
Scavengers are consumers, which feed on decaying biomass, such as dead animal and plant material. Scavengers include animals, such as vultures, raccoons, hyenas, and crabs as well as insects, such as blowflies. Scavengers play an important role in an ecosystem. They keep the ecosystem clean of bodies of dead animals and break down organic material and return it to the ecosystem in the form of nutrients. Plants can then absorb these nutrients through their roots. Scavengers are also prey to other consumers in an ecosystem.
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Decomposers
When a plant or animal dies, nutrients and energy is left behind in the organic material that made up its body. Even though scavengers feed on the carcasses, they still leave behind a large amount of unused energy and nutrients in the bones, feathers, fur, other animal remains, and in the feces of scavengers. Decomposers take over where the scavengers leave off. Decomposers consume organic material and break it down into the various chemical parts, such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous. Decomposers resupply nutrients to the ecosystem. The nutrients are then available for producers. Earthworms, bacteria, and fungi, such as mold, mildew, and mushrooms are examples of decomposers.
