Question

which organism breaks down dead and decaying waste in an ecosystem? omnivore carnivore detritivore

Explanation:

To determine the organism that breaks down dead and decaying waste, we analyze each option:

• Omnivores eat both plants and animals, not dead waste.
• Carnivores eat other animals, not dead waste.
• Detritivores (or detritus feeders) consume dead organic matter, including decaying waste, playing a key role in decomposition.

Answer:

detritivore (the option corresponding to "detritivore" in the choices, e.g., if it's the third option, it would be: C. detritivore)