The detritus food chain differs from the grazing food chain in several significant ways. First, the organisms making it up are in general physically smaller. Second, the functional roles of the different organisms do not fall as neatly into categories like the grazing food chain's trophic levels. As a result, decomposers are less mobile than herbivores or carnivores . These organisms consume organic wastes, shed tissues, and the dead bodies of both plants and animals.
Earthworms are one of the most important soil decomposers.
These organisms consume vast amounts of organic matter and mineral soil. As the organic matter passes through their digestive system, it is subjected to digestive enzymes and the grinding action of mineral soil particles. The amount of material consumed per day is often equal to their body weight. Decomposers in most ecosystems process large amounts of organic matter, converting it back into its inorganic nutrient form. In mature forest and grassland soils, the decomposition process will establish an equilibrium over time where litterfall additions equal the amount of organic decomposition.