It would appear that detritivores and decomposers are the same as they feed on the same materials and eventually produce the same results. However, they are very different, in form and what they eat, when they facilitate decomposition and the exact nature of their diet is also a little different from each other. Before we talk about the difference between detritivores and decomposers, let us shed some light on the similarity.
Decomposition of Organic Matter
Detritivores and decomposers facilitate the decomposition of organic matter. The organic matter could be anything, from a dead carcass to organic waste, fecal matter to dissolved organic materials. It should be noted that there is a difference between dead organic matter and dissolved organic matter. Also, both are different from decomposing or decomposed organic matter. It is absolutely possible that decomposed or decomposing organic matter can become the diet of detritivores and in some cases decomposers.
Neither detritivores nor decomposers would feed on inorganic matter. Anything that is artificial or synthetically produced, anything that cannot decompose naturally or be facilitated to decompose and anything that cannot decay or rot will not attract decomposers or detritivores. This is why we segregate waste materials as biodegradable and non-biodegradable.
What are Detritivores and Decomposers?
Studying the difference between detritivores and decomposers can become easier if you know exactly what they are. Detritivores are organisms that consume or feed on detritus. Biology defines detritus as dead or deceased organic matter. But the matter should not be decomposed or dissolved. It could be decaying and it can be rotten to any extent but it should not be decomposed or dissolved. Decomposers are microorganisms (note the difference here), that feed on deceased, dissolved and decomposing or decomposed organic matter.
Decomposers are fungi and bacteria or other microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye which facilitate decomposing. This is a completely natural process. Detritivores are various types of worms, insects and other visible organisms that feed on detritus. This too is a natural process.
Detritivores and decomposers can work hand in hand, one after the other or separately. In most cases, they both feed on the same matter.
Difference Between Detritivores and Decomposers
We have already shed some substantial light on the differences between detritivores and decomposers. Let us check out how they go about feeding on decaying, dead and rotten or decomposing organic matter.
1. Detritivores can be called or classified as decomposers. But decomposers will not necessarily mean detritivores. The ambit of decomposers includes fungi and bacteria which are known as decomposers and the group also includes detritivores such as insects or worms. There is no unanimity with this classification but you wouldn’t be wrong if you had such grouping.
2. Detritivores are usually playing second, although crucial, fiddle to decomposers. When any organic matter is deceased, the fungi or decomposers start feeding on it. Fungi and other microorganisms secrete chemicals that contain potent enzymes that can breakdown the complicated organic matter. While responsible for breaking down the complicated compounds or structures, the decomposers are actually slow at the consumption process and do not consume very large quantities of the organic matter. This is the job of the detritivores.
They are larger in number and have a greater capacity. They cannot break down complex structures or convert them into simpler substances but when the organic matter is available in a simpler form or already partly decomposed, the detritivores start gorging on the deceased organic matter. It would not be wrong if one were to assume that both detritivores and decomposers work hand in hand. Also, it is because the decomposers pave the way for detritivores that it is fair to classify the latter into the former. Without the foundation of the decomposers, detritivores will find it very difficult to find its way to feeding on organic matter that has not been broken down.
3. To illustrate the cycle, imagine an animal carcass. Fungi and bacteria initiate the decomposition process. Then detritivores come in such as worms, woodlice, millipedes, slugs and dung flies. They start recycling the decomposed and decomposing organic matter.
To sum it all up, imagine decomposers as the agents that help in the decomposition or decay and rotting of the dead organic matter. Imagine detritivores as agents that consume the decaying, rotting and decomposed organic matter. The two groups work together to recycle organic matter. Both decomposers and detritivores play a crucial role in sustenance of the environment. They are quintessential to instill nutrition in the soil where we grow our diverse produce.
Without decomposers and detritivores, organic matter would not be biodegradable. There would be little different between organic and inorganic waste. Also, decomposers and detritivores offer a natural way to recycle organic waste. Of course there are many ways to do their job but none are as eco friendly.
