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What Scavengers Help With Decomposition?

Decomposition is the naturally occurring process which takes place when any living organism dies. It is the breakdown of larger organic organisms into smaller, simpler ones. The ultimate aids to decomposition are carbon dioxide and water, but nature provides additional assistance in the form of scavengers.
  1. Decomposition

    • The ultimate goal of decomposition is to recycle nutrients back into the ground soil from previously living organisms. Decomposition occurs in stages, the first being on a molecular level. After the dead animal's molecules begin to break down, earthworms, insects and snails are drawn by the odorous secretions. In the final stages, larger animals called scavengers appear to clean what is left. Scavengers assist the decomposition process by ingesting rotting flesh and dead organic material. Once digested, scavenging animals deposit this particulate material back into the soil through feces.

    Scavenger vs Decomposer

    • There is some debate within the scientific community as to whether certain animals are scavengers or decomposers. Ultimately, smaller organisms, potentially microscopic, are considered decomposers, and larger animals are the scavengers. There is a general consensus that both contribute to the decomposition process. A group of Washington State University researchers hypothesize, "Thus, bears, as consumers and transporters of carcasses, facilitate the scavenging of carcasses by maggots, increasing the transfer marine-derived nutrients from aquatic to riparian habitats." This indicates that larger scavengers, such as bears, facilitate in the overall decomposition process.

    Vultures

    • The most notorious scavenger is the vulture. Vultures have become synonymous with death. When vultures are converging and hovering, it is almost certain that something nearby is dead or dying. Vultures exist almost entirely by consuming rotting flesh, excreting digested material back onto the Earth's soil, where the last stage of decompression can continue.

    Hyena

    • Hyenas, another animal on the top of the scavenger food chain, are well adapted to this nomadic way of life. The hyena's acute hearing alerts them to a far-off kill, and their intense endurance provides them with the strength and speed needed to scavenge the prey of others. Other canine scavengers include wolves, jackals, fox, dingos and coyotes.

    Other Scavengers

    • Some mammalian carnivores that scavenge, and play a part in the decomposition process, are often driven by food deficiency. Many predators, when food sources are limited, turn to scavenging for an easy meal. These animals include bears, weasels, wolverines, opossums and raccoons. Even predatory, carnivorous felines, such as bobcats, cougars, leopards, lions, lynxes, ocelots, panthers and tigers, will turn to scavenging when they are hungry enough, depositing decomposed material into the soil through their feces.

      The ocean houses many scavengers, such as crabs, lobsters and a host of other bottom feeders. Again, their excrement is a contribution to the final stages of decomposition.


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