Bio-Buddies: Nature's Recyclers

Natural recyclers are animals, plants, and fungi that break down dead things and waste into air, water, and nutrients.  Without them, the world would quickly run out of these essential ingredients of survival!  There are two main kinds of natural recyclers: detritivores and decomposers.

Detritivores are animals that eat detritus.  They chew, grind, and tear once-living things into tiny pieces.  Bacteria in their bodies helps them take the nutrients they need out of their food and then they deposit the rest back out into the world.  Click through the slideshow to see some examples of detritivores!

Decomposers are not animals.  They are other living things like bacteria and fungi.  They turn big things like proteins and fats into little molecules that other living things can use.  Click through the slideshow to see some decomposers!