Decomposer

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For the Matches album of the same name go here- Decomposer (album)

The fungi on the tree are decomposers.

Decomposers (or saprotrophs) are organisms that require organic substrates to get their carbon for growth and development. They obtain their energy from deceased organisms. Decomposers themselves are organisms (often fungi, bacteria, or earthworms) that break down organic materials to gain nutrients and energy. Decomposers accelerate the natural process of decomposition. They supply the required nutrients for other trophic levels. When an organism dies, it leaves behind nutrients that are locked tightly together. A scavenger might eat the carcass, but its feces would still contain a considerable amount of unused energy and nutrients. Decomposers will later induce further breakdown. This last step releases raw nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium) in a form usable to plants, which quickly incorporate the chemicals into their own cells. This process greatly increases the nutrient-load of an ecosystem, in turn allowing for greater biodiversity. An example of a decomposer is fungus; it breaks down the dead tree, harvesting its stored energy. Although decomposers are generally located on the bottom of ecosystem diagrams such as food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids, decomposers in the biosphere are crucial to the environment. By breaking down dead material, they provide some of the required nutrients that other organisms need to survive. As decomposers feed on dead organisms, they leave behind nutrients. These nutrients become part of the soil. Therefore, more plants can grow.