Expert: Adia Freeman - 11/23/2006

Question
how do detritivores and decomposers form a vital link in the nutrient cycle of ecosystems?

Answer
detrivores and decomposers are two terms describing the same type of organism- one that "eats" dead organic matter.  If decomposers such as bacteria and fungi were not around dead organisms/ parts of organisms like dead leaves and other things that primary/ secondary consumers like rabbits and wolves don't consume whould never recycle through the ecoeyetem- and the energy that may be harnest and reused again after it has been recycled by decomposers would never be used again if decomposers don't break it down into a form of energy/ matter that may be consumed by primary/ secondary consumer organisms.  As such dead leaves and dead organisms would litter the earth because no one will eat them- this would be a terrible waste of energy.

When decomposers eat dead organisms they excrete in their waste (poop) chemicals like nitrates which can be consumed by the roots of plants- as such the plant grows making food for the primary consumers (rabbits- and animals that eat plants) and the growth of primary consumers inturn increases the number of secondary consumers (animals that eat meat) and so the cycle of energy flow in the environment continues.

Hope this helped!! Hooray Bio!!!