Question

A detritivore is a/an
A. Animal feeding on plant matter
B. Animal feeding on decaying organic matter
C. Plant feeding on an animal
D. Animal feeding on another animal

Answer 1

Hint: An ecosystem comprises living organisms and nonliving components. The living components of the system comprises not only plants and animals but also of organisms that feed on decaying matter. These organisms are of immense importance in energy flow of the ecosystem and the biogeochemical cycles.

Complete step by step answer: Detritivores are heterotrophic organisms that consume detritus or decaying parts of plants and animals. These organisms also ingest fecal matter of animals.
Detritivores play an important role in the ecosystem. They feed on decaying plants, herbivores and carnivores. Thus, they are present in all the levels of the ecosystem, continually ingesting decaying and fecal matter, fragmenting them and helping to speed up the process of decomposition. Detritivores include earthworms, springtails, beetles, mites, sea urchins, etc.
Animals feeding on plant matter are called herbivores. They are sheep, goats, cows.
Certain plants exist that consume small animals like arthropods and other insects. These plants are called insectivorous or carnivorous plants. Common examples of insectivores are pitcher plants, Venus flytraps among others.
Animals feeding on other animals are called carnivores. They derive energy by consuming the flesh of other animals. Typical examples of carnivores are tigers, wolves, lions, etc.
Therefore, from the above discussion it can be concluded that option (b) is correct.

Additional Information: Detritivores are animals that ingest and process decaying plant and animal parts and their fecal egestion. Detritivores are often confused with decomposers. The major difference between these two types of organisms are in their process of intake of nutrients. While decomposers absorb nutrients, detritivores ingest them.
Detritivores are a branch of the decomposers that ingest decaying organic matter and break them down into smaller fragments. This process helps the decomposers to speed up the process of decomposition. Thus, detritivores along with decomposers play an important role in nutrient cycling and the biogeochemical cycles like the nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle and phosphorus cycle. Removal of dead and decaying matter from the environment inhibits spread of diseases. Detritivores are present in all trophic levels of the ecosystem and contribute to energy flow of the ecosystem. These organisms, while carrying out their life cycles are eaten by other animals thereby contributing to biomass of the ecosystem.

Fig: Schematic representation of a food chain

Note: Detritivores are heterotrophic animals. They are generally insects like mites, beetles, cockroaches, earthworms. These organisms feed on decaying organic matters. They are a branch of decomposer organisms. They ingest particulate matter and convert the same into simpler substances that help speed up the process of decomposition. Detritivores also help in nutrient cycle and energy flow of the ecosystem. Therefore, to conclude, detritivores form an integral of the ecosystem.