Which of the following are detritivores? 1. Earthworms 2. Jellyfish 3. Millipedes 4. Seahorses 5. Woodlice Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Defines the detritus food chain: first consumers take dead organic matter and are called detritus-feeding organisms (detrivores), establishing what behaviour qualifies as detritivory.

A student can compare this definition to described jellyfish feeding behaviour (do they consume dead organic matter as first-level consumers?) to judge if jellyfish fit the detritivore role.

Notes a practical distinction: many decomposers (bacteria, fungi, protists) absorb on a molecular scale, while the terms detritivore and decomposer are often used interchangeably but detritivores ingest discrete lumps of matter.

Use this rule to check whether jellyfish ingest particulate detritus (lumps) versus capturing live prey or filtering—if they ingest particles, they might be detritivores by this criterion.

Gives examples of detritus feeders (earthworm, nematodes, arthropods) that actively consume detritus, showing typical detritivore taxa and feeding modes.

Compare typical detritivore taxa and feeding anatomy/behaviour with jellyfish morphology/feeding methods (from external sources) to assess plausibility.

Describes zooplankton roles in nutrient recycling and transfer of organic matter in marine food webs, linking small planktonic consumers to detritus and nutrient pathways.

Since jellyfish are often part of the planktonic community, a student could check whether planktonic feeding modes include detritivory and whether jellyfish are listed among detritus-feeding zooplankton.

States decomposers feed on detritus and are largely microscopic, emphasizing that many detritus processors are microbes rather than macroscopic predators.

Use this to weigh whether a macroscopic gelatinous predator like a jellyfish is more likely a predator/consumer of live prey than a decomposer/detritivore, prompting targeted lookup of jellyfish diet.

Explicitly lists 'arthropods' among soil organisms termed detritus feeders (detrivores), alongside earthworms and nematodes.

A student who knows millipedes are arthropods could use this pattern to suspect millipedes may be detritivores and then check habitat/feeding habits.

Defines the detritus food chain as beginning with dead organic matter consumed by 'detritus feeding organisms called detrivores'.

Knowing where millipedes are found (e.g., leaf litter/soil) and that detritivores consume detritus, a student could infer millipedes might belong to this group and verify by species-level feeding info.

States decomposers feed on detritus/decaying organic matter and gives insects and snails as examples of consumers in lower levels.

Using the example list of lower-level consumers (insects/snails) one could analogously consider millipedes (another small soil arthropod) as candidate detritivores pending direct feeding evidence.

Notes the terms 'detritivore' and 'decomposer' are often used interchangeably and distinguishes organisms that ingest particulate detritus from those that absorb molecules.

If millipedes ingest decaying plant matter (a basic natural-history fact a student might recall), this distinction supports classifying them as detritivores rather than only microbial decomposers.

Explains decomposers/detritus organisms degrade organic matter and restore nutrients, framing what functional criteria define detritivores.

A student could apply this functional definition to millipedes by checking whether they feed on/degrade organic detritus in ecosystems.

Gives a clear definition and examples of detritus feeders (detrivores) as organisms that consume dead organic matter and lists typical detritivore examples (earthworm, nematodes, arthropods).

A student could compare seahorses to these example detritivores (are seahorses similar in feeding mode/anatomy/behaviour?) or look up standard facts on seahorse feeding to see if they ingest detritus like earthworms do.

Explains the detritus food chain: its first consumers obtain energy from dead organic matter, distinguishing it from grazing chains based on living plant biomass.

One could place seahorses within a marine food‑web (using basic external knowledge of food chains) to judge whether their energy source is dead organic matter or living prey.

States decomposers feed on detritus and are largely microscopic (bacteria, fungi), emphasising that many detritus processors are not larger predatory animals.

A student could check whether seahorses feed by microscopic absorption/decomposition vs. active ingestion of prey, using standard biological descriptions of fish feeding methods.

Notes distinction and overlap between terms 'detritivore' and 'decomposer', and that many decomposers are microbes that absorb molecules rather than ingest particles.

Using this rule, one could test if seahorses employ absorption/metabolic decomposition (like microbes) or mechanical ingestion, to assess if 'detritivore' applies.

Describes the role of zooplankton in transferring organic matter to secondary consumers (fishes), indicating a common marine trophic pathway involving live small organisms rather than detritus.

A student could use this pattern to hypothesize that marine fishes (including seahorses) may feed on zooplankton/organisms in the grazing/consumer chain rather than being detritivores, then verify seahorse diet.

States that certain soil organisms, such as nematodes and arthropods, are detritus feeders (detrivores).

A student who knows that woodlice are terrestrial arthropods could reasonably infer they may belong to this group and so test woodlouse feeding habits or habitat (leaf litter, decaying matter).

Defines the detritus food chain as beginning with dead organic matter and names detritus-feeding organisms (detrivores) as consumers in that chain.

Use this rule to check whether woodlice occupy the first consumer level on detritus food chains in terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., in leaf litter studies).

Clarifies terminology: distinguishes decomposers and notes the terms detritivore and decomposer are often used interchangeably.

A student can apply this to interpret observational or experimental evidence of woodlice breaking down organic matter as qualifying them as detritivores/decomposers.

Gives examples of small insects (beetles, flies) found on dung that help break it down and are called decomposers/saprotrophs.

By analogy, examine whether woodlice are commonly found on/consume decaying plant matter or dung, supporting classification as detritivores.

Summarises that ecosystems include producers, consumers, and decomposers, with decomposers breaking down dead matter and recycling nutrients.

Use this general role to place woodlice within ecosystem nutrient-recycling roles by observing whether they contribute to breakdown of dead organic matter.