Question

Both scavengers and decomposers feed on the dead how are they different

Answer 1

Answer:

The main difference between scavenger and decomposer is that scavenger consumes dead plants, animals or carrion to break down the organic materials into small particles whereas decomposer consumes the small particles produced by the scavengers. Scavengers can be animals such as birds, crabs, insects, and worms

Answer 2

Answer:

Scavenger

Scavenging is a feeding behaviour in which an animal feeds on either dead animal or dead plant matter. Scavengers are the animals with scavenging habits. Scavengers’ role is vital for the ecosystem as they contribute to the decomposition, while decomposers and detritus feeders are responsible for completing the process. Scavengers do not spend energy to kill their prey, but they sense the smell of food on which they can feed. Vultures, Burying beetle, Raccoons, Jackals, and Hyenas are some prime examples for animal scavengers. Termites and earthworms are good examples for plant scavengers. While the scavengers act on the dead animals and plants, they break them in to small pieces of organic materials. Thus, scavengers start the decomposing process. In addition, big helpers for the decomposition process are the scavengers, while detritus feeders are the small helpers.

Decomposer

Decomposition is a process that small organisms act on dead plants and animals biomass to convert those into molecular levels. Decomposers are the organisms that contribute to the decomposition process. Fungi are the primary decomposers in a forest, while bacteria are also good examples. They are microscopic more often than not. However, the dead matter has to be exposed for bacteria to be able to act upon, while fungi can decompose any dead biomass because of their penetrability. Apart from that, enzymes to decompose lignin in wood are present only in fungi. Decomposers release the organic and inorganic molecules in the form of nutrients for the plants and animals. This process is vital for the recycling of the resources inside an ecosystem.

Explanation: