saprobe

(noun)

an organism that lives off of dead or decaying organic material

Related Terms

Examples of saprobe in the following topics:

  • Protists as Plant Pathogens

    • The fungus-like protist saprobes are specialized to absorb nutrients from non-living organic matter, such as dead organisms or their wastes.
    • Saprobic protists have the essential function of returning inorganic nutrients to the soil and water.
    • Indeed, without saprobe species, such as protists, fungi, and bacteria, life would cease to exist as all organic carbon became "tied up" in dead organisms.

  • Chromalveolata: Stramenopiles

    • The excess diatoms die and sink to the sea floor where they are not easily reached by saprobes that feed on dead organisms.
    • The oomycetes are non-photosynthetic and include many saprobes and parasites.
    • The saprobes appear as white fluffy growths on dead organisms .

  • Chytridiomycota: The Chytrids

    • Some species thrive as parasites on plants, insects, or amphibians, while others are saprobes.

  • Zygomycota: The Conjugated Fungi

    • Most species are saprobes meaning they live off decaying organic material.

  • Fungi Habitat, Decomposition, and Recycling

    • As saprobes, fungi help maintain a sustainable ecosystem for the animals and plants that share the same habitat.

  • Cell Structure, Metabolism, and Motility

    • Subtypes of heterotrophs, called saprobes, absorb nutrients from dead organisms or their organic wastes.

  • Fungi Cell Structure and Function

    • Fungi are mostly saprobes (saprophyte is an equivalent term): organisms that derive nutrients from decaying organic matter.