Monday, November 16, 2009

Organisms such as fungi and bacteria that break down and absorb nutrients from dead plants or animals?

what are these?

Organisms such as fungi and bacteria that break down and absorb nutrients from dead plants or animals?
saprophytic organisms/saprophytes/decomposers


I di dsome research on wikipedia and i have learnt that a saprotroph(saprophyte or saprobe) is an organism that obtains its nutrients from non-living organic matter, usually dead and decaying plant or animal matter, by absorbing soluble organic compounds. Since saprotrophs cannot make food for themselves, they are considered a type of heterotroph. Where as a decomposer (or saprotrophs) are organisms that consume dead plants and animals, and, in doing so, carry out the natural process of decomposition. Like herbivores and predators, decomposers are heterotrophic, meaning that they use organic substrates to get their energy, carbon and nutrients for growth and development. Decomposers use deceased organisms and non-living organic compounds as their food source.


So basically they are the samething so use which ever one you wish
Reply:Decomposers.
Reply:Saprophytes





http://biology.about.com/od/prefixesands...


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