Decomposers vs. Detritivores
Difference Between Decomposers and Detritivores
Decomposers vs. Detritivores
Detritivores are the beings which feed on other animals with the process of detritus while decomposers are the beings which feed on other beings with the process of decomposition.
Decomposers vs. Detritivores
Detritivores require the internal organs to help in digestion so that they can get the food they need while decomposers do not require such processes to complete the food process.
Decomposers vs. Detritivores
Decomposers do the breaking of the cells present in the human body and get the nutrition from it while Detritivores do the process opposite to it when they have to perform their own actions to get the nutrition.
Decomposers vs. Detritivores
The best example of Detritivores is earthworm while the best example of decomposers is slime moulds.
Decomposers vs. Detritivores
There is a complete chemical process that is carried out when a substance is being decomposed while that process does not take place in the process for Detritivores.
Decomposers vs. Detritivores
Bacteria and Fungi are decomposers more often than not, while most of the insects and other beings are the ones which are detritivores.
Comparison Chart
| Decomposers | Detritivores |
| They are organisms which break the food that they need in order to survive. | These are organisms which carry out the process of obtaining food with the help of internal organs. |
| Organs | |
| Do not require such processes to complete the food process. | Require the internal organs to help in digestion so that they can get the food they need. |
| Source | |
| Do the breaking of the cells present in the human body and get the nutrition from it. | Do the process opposite to it when they have to perform their own actions to get the nutrition. |
| Example | |
| Bacteria and Fungi | Insects |
Definition of Decomposers
They are organisms which break the food that they need in order to survive. Whenever an animal or a plant is dead they get on to it and start the decaying process and this is known as decomposition. They are the organism which break down other dead beings and while doing so obtain food and nutrition for themselves and the whole process is known as decomposition. They do not need internal digestion but carry out their processes with the help of breaking the cells of various organisms. Another way of defining the two terms would be that detritivores are the animals which feed on detritus while decomposers and the animals which get their energy by nutrition of other beings. They should not be confused with other types and there are many examples of such type of process and the organisms which are involved in the process but the main ones are earthworm. decomposes break down the cells of other organisms with the help of a secretion which falls over the other beings in the form of enzymes. This process takes longer than the other ones since the beings have to act on their own with the help of secretions they produce and the animal on which they are acting is the one which takes longer time to decay.
Definition of Detritivores
These are organisms which carry out the process of obtaining food with the help of internal organs and need the internal digestion to help them achieve the task they want to reach. There are many types of reactions that go on during this phase and many types of microscopic beings are a part of this. Detritivores are known as heterotrophs which obtain their food from sources such as plants and animals but they do so by decomposing the feces of these sources. There are many types of detritivores and several animals and plants which are common source of providing food for animals are the ones who provide energy and such items to these microorganisms. They have to ingest material and need internal systems to provide them the power of obtaining nutrition and other sources to survive. They are usually thought to be similar to the decomposers but there are many differences therefore bacteria, fungi and viruses who are a part of this process are thought to be different from the others. The best example of decomposers is slime moulds who carry out the process with the help of internal digestion and cannot secrete any liquid in order to decompose the food.
ConclusionDecomposers and Detritivores might sound the same term but in reality they are very different from each other. They may have the same context but the meaning is variable which has been discussed in the article and a proper differences and definitions are given so that you know exactly what you are talking about.
