saprotrophn.
/ˈsaprə(ʊ)ˌtrəʊf/, U.S. /ˈsæprəˌtroʊf/ Biology.
An organism that feeds on or derives nourishment from decaying organic matter; = saprobe n.
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the world > life > biology > balance of nature > organisms in relation to habitat > [noun]
colonist1839
benthos1891
land form1897
heterotroph1900
autotroph1901
epibenthos1902
specialist1902
microaerophile1903
nitrifier1903
consumer1904
nitrogen fixer1904
producer1904
indicator1906
psychrophile1906
thermophil1909
sulphuretum1925
influent1926
halobiont1928
halophile1928
mesophile1928
oligosaprobe1931
saprobe1932
eurytope1938
stenotope1938
photoautotroph1939
chemoautotroph1943
prototroph1946
mixotrophy1948
chemolithoautotroph1949
auxotroph1950
chemoheterotroph1951
chemoorganotroph1953
chemolithotroph1955
chemotroph1958
osmophile1961
psychrotroph1963
saprotroph1963
generalist1964
opportunist1967
cryophile1970
1963 P. B. Weisz Sci. Biol. (ed. 2) ix. 187/2 Astasia..is a colorless saprotroph otherwise entirely similar to Euglena.
1985 Cambr. Encycl. Life Sci. v. 142/2 Primary saprotrophs colonise intact dead leaves; secondary saprotrophs colonise leaves that have been partially decomposed by the action of primary saprotrophs.
2009 G. S. Thorpe AP Environmental Sci. (ed. 3) iv. 82 Vultures and dung beetles are also saprotrophs.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1963