Final answer:
The group that breaks things down is detritivores. They digest decaying organic matter, recycling nutrients in ecosystems. Examples include earthworms, dung beetles, sea cucumbers, and catfish.
Step-by-step explanation:
The group that breaks things down is a. detritivores.
Detritivores play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down decaying organic matter, such as dead leaves, animal feces, and other such debris. These organisms ingest and digest detritus, which is an essential process for recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. Types of detritivores include terrestrial species like earthworms and dung beetles, as well as aquatic species like sea cucumbers and catfish.
Unlike producers that make their own food through photosynthesis or consumers that directly eat other organisms, detritivores help decompose organic matter, thus contributing to the nutrient cycle by releasing simpler inorganic molecules that producers can then use to synthesize new organic compounds.