An organism, often a bacterium or fungus, that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter, thus making organic nutrients available to the ecosystem
(1)Any of various organisms (as many bacteria and fungi) that feed on and break down organic substances (such as dead plants and animals) (2) Rotting agent; an organism, especially a bacterium or fungus, that causes organic material to rot or decay ADVANCE \x 540
An organism that breaks down the final remains of living things Predominantly bacteria and fungi, they are important in freeing the last of the minerals and nutrients from organics and recycling them back into the food web
An organism, usually a bacterium or a fungus, that breaks down the bodies of dead plants and animals into simpler substances usable by green plants These organisms mineralize organic matter
One of many organisms, principally bacteria, that reduce animal wastes and the carcasses of complex organisms into elemental components Decomposers form a trophic level in the ecosystem that makes the remains of dead organisms available to green plants