saprotroph, organism that feeds on nonliving organic matter known as detritus at a microscopic level. The etymology of the word saprotroph comes from the Greek sapros (“rot… See more

Of the major groups of saprotrophs, fungi are among the most efficient at decomposing complex organic molecules and recycling those nutrients back into the ecosystem… See more

Bacteria are well-known decomposers of dead animal flesh and are efficient at converting animal tissues to simpler organic compounds. A number of saprotrophic bacteria, in… See more

Water molds, or Oomycetes, are common in fresh- and saltwater environments throughout the world. Some species, particularly those found in the order Saprolegni… See more