分解者(ぶんかいしゃ)

分解者(ぶんかいしゃ) is a biology term composed of 分解(ぶんかい) (decomposition) + 者(しゃ) (one who does). It refers to organisms that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Related words

• 生産者(せいさんしゃ): producer (plants — make food via photosynthesis)
• 消費者(しょうひしゃ): consumer (animals — eat other organisms)

Types

• 細菌(さいきん): bacteria
• 菌類(きんるい): fungi (including mushrooms and mold)
• ミミズ: earthworms

Usage

This term appears frequently in 理科(りか) (science) classes and 生態系(せいたいけい) (ecosystem) discussions. The three-role classification is a standard part of Japanese science education.