What are decomposers?

Are decomposers predators?

• hmm.. Also, scavengers are not decomposers right? I'm confused with the information given in wiki. It says scavengers are decomposers.

• Answer:

  No, decomposers are not predators. Predators kill prey animals. A scavenger eats what the predator leaves behind, and decomposers eat what the scavenger leaves behind. Examples of predators would include lions,eagles and sharks (land, sky and water predators) Examples of scavengers would include hyenas, vultures and crabs. (land, sky and water scavengers) Decomposers and scavengers break down dead plants and animals. They also break down the waste (poop) of other organisms. Decomposers are very important for any ecosystem. If they weren't in the ecosystem, the plants would not get essential nutrients, and dead matter and waste would pile up. There are two kinds of decomposers, scavengers and decomposers. Once a scavenger is done, the decomposers take over, and finish the job. Many kinds of decomposers are microscopic, meaning that they can't be seen without a microscope. Others, like fungi, can be seen. Different kinds of decomposers do different jobs in the ecosystem. Others, like some kinds of bacteria, prefer breaking down meat or waste from carnivores.