An organism that eats dead matter to return nutrients to the soil, air and water to be used.

• A. Autotroph
• B. Decomposer
• C. Omnivore
• D. Detritovore

Answer: (D)

Nutrient cycling through detrital pathways is in play here. Detritivores are organisms that feed on dead organic matter (detritus). By consuming this material, they physically break it down, increasing surface area and speeding the release of nutrients back into the soil, and they help move those nutrients into the broader ecosystem via water and, ultimately, back into the atmosphere through various processes. This role is distinct from autotrophs, which produce organic matter themselves, and from omnivores, who eat a mix of live matter. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi chemically break down detritus, often without ingesting solid material, but the description specifically highlights eating dead matter to release nutrients, which is why detritivores fit best.