Examples of Decomposers in Different Ecosystems

A decomposer in science is “an organism that feeds on and breaks down dead animal or plant matter” and breaks down the waste of other organisms. This process helps provide organic nutrients for the ecosystem where it lives.

There are two main kinds of decomposers, scavengers and decomposers. Scavengers find dead plants and animals and eat them. Decomposers break down what’s left of dead matter or organism waste.

The different decomposers can be broken down further into three types: fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates.

Aquatic decomposers live in water-based environments that are marine or freshwater.

There are more decomposers in tropical oceans, like the Pacific, because of the warmer temperatures. Most marine decomposers are bacteria.

• Christmas tree worm: uses feathery appendages to catch organic matter floating in the water

Freshwater decomposers are mostly bacteria and are typically found at the bottom of lakes, ponds, or rivers.

• Mildew: type of bacteria found in or near water
• Trumpet snail: this type of snail is a scavenger sometimes considered a pest
• Water mold: type of bacteria found in freshwater or wet soil
• Yeast: type of bacteria found in freshwater lakes

Terrestrial decomposers live on land in all different types of ecosystems. The dead plants and animals they consume are called detritus.

Decomposers in the forest are typically found on the forest floor.

• Beetle: type of shredder that eats and digests detritus
• Earthworm: type of shredder that eats and digests detritus
• Millipede: type of shredder that eats and digests detritus
• Mushroom: type of fungi that grows out of the ground or the dead material it’s feeding off
• Pillbug: type of shredder that eats and digests detritus
• Saprobe: microscopic organisms that live in soil; bacteria are a type of saprobe
• Slime mold: type of saprobe that grows on damp rotten wood and rotting leaves
• Slug: type of shredder that eats and digests detritus

You won’t find many decomposers in deserts because they typically like moist areas. Many of the desert decomposers you can find are insects.

• Dung beetle: insect that feeds off animal feces
• Fly: insect that feeds off decaying materials
• Millipede: arthropod that feeds of decaying plant material
• Saharan silver ant: fast ants who thrive in deserts and feed off things like animal carcasses

Grassland decomposers can sometimes be found in forests or deserts since those are similar environments.

• Acidobacteria: type of bacteria that thrive in savannas
• Termite: insect that breaks down cellulose from dead wood
• Turkey tail mushroom: fungus that grows on and feeds on dead logs

Mountain decomposers are sometimes found in forests too, since they can be similar environments.

• Bolete mushroom: fungi that feeds off the byproducts of the ponderosa pine tree

As you can see, certain types of insects and fungi are the most common decomposers in a variety of ecosystems. You can explore more specific species examples to see how different types of beetles or worms, for example, break down dead matter.