Pythons and boas are large snakes that kill prey by suffocation. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Why Is Biodiversity Critical To Life On Earth? 30. B. In this way, gorillas are keystone species in many African rainforest ecosystems. Description. The habitat that they are mostly found in are moist areas; Rainforest areas, Monsoon area, Paperbark swamps, and Open floodplains. They keep an ecosystem free of rot and decay by breaking down organic matter. The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the biggest cat species living in the Americas and is the third largest in the world after the lion and the tiger. What is an abiotic reservoir of carbon? The peccary family includes warthogs, wild boars and the endangered babirusa. Hoatzin. Many types of trees produce delicious fruits adored by both humans and animals alike . All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Continued / Next: Birds of the Forest Floor What biome has the largest biomass ?? Secondary. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The omnivores include of many monkeys and marmosets, lion tamarinds, chimpanzees, and bears. The kinkajou is exclusively a resident of the Amazonian rainforest, living primarily in the forest canopy. It supports approximately 15,000 plant species, 380 bird species and several mammal species. What are 4 herbivores in the tropical rainforest? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Why does it look like pictures are looking at you? Some rainforest monkeys are omnivores eating a wide range of insects, animals and plants. While some omnivores are solitary, many species of tropical rainforest omnivores live in groups, which helps them to defend their food resources and survive. (a) Super carnivores (b) Carnivores (c) Herbivores (d) Primary producers. Which two biomes are characterized by extremely high biodiversity? Golden Poison Dart Frog - The Golden Poison Dart Frog contains the most poison of all the dart frogs. What are 2 producers in the rainforest? a mountain range in the middle of a desert. b. Kinkajou. Small remnants of evergreen forest are found in Odisha state. What type of heterotrophs (consumers) grazes directly on plants or algae? A large number of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and predators like the jaguar inhabit this layer. Which animals are found in tropical grassland? Why are large predators relatively rare in the rainforest. Tropical rain forest can have many herbivores such as toucans, sloths, butterflies, hummingbirds, turtles, elks, deer, birds, and insects. Jaguars- Jaguars are good at both swimming and fishing and tend to hunt at night; they prey on frogs, fish, turtles, rodents, deer and caiman.The largest and most powerful member of the Amazon cats - top of the food chain and among the largest living cats. Omnivores are animals which eat both plants and meat. Monkeys do not eat humans. These are woodland creatures that eat both plants and meat. Their typical diet consists of plants, fruits, nuts, pollen, and insects. However, three main groups dominate the tropical rainforests. a. Herbivores b. Carnivores c. Omnivores. The Borneo lowland rain forests is diminishing due to logging, hunting and conversion to commercial land use. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Tropical rain forest, Temperate, deciduous forest, Taiga, Boreal forest, or Temperate rain forest? A very large carnivorous mammal that swallows its prey whole after killing it. Frogs and toads also feed off the insects in the rainforest. a. prairie b. savanna c. tundra d. tropical rain forest, A mammal whose diet primarily consists of grasses would be best classified as which of these? 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. They commonly sit on logs sticking out of the water and dive into the water once approached too closely. Our goal is to make science relevant and fun for everyone. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Lesser Antillean Iguana. Even the largest monkey species is too small to consider humans prey. a. leaves, detritus feeders, deer, owls b. birds, mice, snakes c. nuts, leaf-eating insects, chipmunks, hawks d. leaves, leaf-eating insects, mice, snakes. A. Their most recognizable trait is their long, orange and yellow bill which usually grows to .5 - .75 ft (.15 - .23m) in length. What biogeochemical cycles go on in a tropical rainforest? (67) $7.50. Mammalian herbivores include spiny rats, deer, peccaries, sloths, monkeys, and many others; they are often generalists, feeding on a variety of available plant taxa according to season or locality. Animals that hunt other animals are known as predators, while those that are hunted are known as prey. The Earth's temperate deciduous (broadleaf) forests are the areas shown in bright green in the map below. Amazon Animals: Omnivores Omnivores eat both plants and other animals. The tropical rain forest is filled with all kinds of animals and plants, and many of the inhabitants of the tropical forests will stalk and eat some of both varieties to survive. Which kinds would be most likely to be ruminants and why? How Is Climate Change Impacting The Water Cycle. Look for: The Producers - the trees, shrubs, bromeliads and other plants.. There are also light stripes that can be seen on the . Give examples of the major biomes found in the biosphere. A family of birds called flycatchers wait for insects to fly past, then swoop out to catch them; other birds spend their whole lives following swarms of army ants (which themselves eat mostly insects). The three main groups are the herbivores, omnivores, and the carnivores. a. taiga b. savanna c. tundra d. temperate deciduous forest e. tropical rainforest. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Northwestern University: What is an Omnivore? -Sloths: Two-toed sloths are slow-moving arboreal mammals found in Central American forests. (The word carni is Latin for flesh.) In the rainforest, the carnivores that most likely come to mind are the big jungle cats such as tigers and jaguars. The name for this animal is derived from an Indian word that means "honey bear." They live in the upper levels What kind of animals live in the Amazon rain forest? What are primary consumers? Give two examples of each. Trees, vines, mosses, grasses, tropical fruit trees, decomposers. The most notable rainforest omnivores are the wild forest pigs which are found in both the New and Old World. OMNIVORES of the RAINFOREST FLOOR. The three-toed sloths are arboreal mammals found in South and Central America. They also help disperse seeds throughout the forest. What animals live in the Indian rainforest? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Organic matter falls from trees and plants, and these organisms break down the decaying material into nutrients. Both pass on all energy received to the next trophic level. Forest Floor Layer These highly social creatures live in large groups of about 35 individuals and split into smaller groups to feed during the day. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The trees pack themselves in tightly because they don't have to compete with one another to get water. What organisms are heterotrophic decomposers? What biological factor makes carnivorous animals eat only meat and herbivores animals only plants? Each food chain is a possible pathway that energy and nutrients can follow through the ecosystem. They are also called detritivores. Plants growing here seldom reach 10 feet in height and usually have broad leaves to provide greater surface area for photosynthesis. This tropical rainforest animal is today critically endangered. But rainforest carnivores also include plants, fish, insects and birds too, like the giant condors. Which major change to the ecosystem will probably not change this plant population? These rainforests receive a high volume of annual rainfall, and nearly every month receives at least 60 mm rainfall. What is a omnivore in a tropical rainforest? Peccaries have the uncanny ability to sense plant bulbs at depths up to 10 feet (3 m). What are some rainforest omnivores adaptations? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Also known as the ring-tailed coati (Nasua nasua), it is an animal that inhabits the rainforests of South America. What do carnivores do in the Amazon rainforest? a. Autotrophs b. Chemoautotrophs c. Chemotrophs d. Heterotrophs, Which of the following illustrates the correct ordering of trophic levels? (The word carni is Latin for flesh.) In the rainforest, the carnivores that most likely come to mind are the big jungle cats such as tigers and jaguars. Some rainforest omnivores include: wild pigs. What are the major terrestrial biomes? Hoatzin. Amphibians. This animal is one of the smallest animals of the monkey family. It has an arched back with long thin legs and strange tusks that rise for over one foot (30 cm) from the lower jaw. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. What animals and plants would you see? This feature is known as aposematic coloration. Frogs and toads also feed off the insects in the rainforest. One of the five extant rhino species today, the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) inhabits the tropical forests of Borneo and Sumatra. The holes left in the ground by foraging peccaries often fill with water and provide habitats for bug larvae, tadpoles and even small fish. Their diet can also include bark, insects and honey. a. Autotrophs. These tropical rainforest animals are found in forests of South and Central America as well as Southeastern Asia. squirrels. Woodland creatures like red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and opossums inhabit woodlands and eat a varied diet. Most species hunt at night in both the forest floor and the rainforest canopy. Which of the following options is correct? opossums. The . Get access to this video and our entire Q&A library, What Are Tropical Rainforests? What are the major plants, animals, and fungi that are found in a terrestrial ecosystem? Carnivores feed off other animals in the rainforests and usually prey on herbivores. What is an adaptation specific to the desert biome? 5 What do herbivores eat in the tropical rainforest? They inhabit the tropical forests of western Africa. Many monkeys, tree frogs, and birds are some of the omnivores that live in the Amazon Rain Forest. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Herbivores are animals that eat plants or plant parts. a. marine, freshwater, and terrestrial b. desert, forest, grassland c. ocean, coastal, inland d. tropical, deciduous, boreal, What trophic level(s) (producer, consumer, or decomposer) is/are you eating when you eat each of the following: a. steamed broccoli b. chicken c. eggs d. mushrooms. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". What are some examples of an omnivore? , Pigs. a. temperate grasslands b. savannas c. tropical rainforests d. tundra. Did Smokey Robinson sing with the Miracles? Mongabay 1995-2020. 29. Examples of omnivores include bears, birds, dogs, raccoons, foxes, certain insects, and even humans. Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. Examples of tropical rainforest omnivores include bears, jaguars, monkeys, pigs, anteaters, sloths, and opossums. Examples of temperate rainforests include the Pacific temperate Rainforests ecoregion of North America, the Valdivian temperate rain forest in . Fact 1: Rainforests only cover around 2 percent the total surface area of the Earth and about 6% of the Earth's land surface, but about 50 percent of all known species of the plants and animals on the earth live in the rainforest. a. buffalo herds b. buffalo chips c. air d. tropical forests. They are almost completely herbivores, with invertebrates like insects making up an infinitesimal part of their diets. These animals usually root in the forest soil for their food and in the process create pits that fill with water when it rains, providing a home to insect larvae, frog tadpoles, and even some fish species. It has few predators itself, but can fall victim to birds of prey and humans. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The keel billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) is found in the rainforests of Latin America. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". What kind of animals live in dry forests? Explain why this specifically describes felines. Lives in semi-open habitats and spends much of its time on the ground searching for small fruits and insects. Toucans live in the forest canopy. One example of this is felines. 2 What are 4 herbivores in the tropical rainforest? Many animals have adapted to the unique conditions of the tropical rainforests. An omnivore animal is one that eats both plants and animals, which may include eggs, insects, fungi, meat, and algae. (Desert, Tundra, Forest, Rainforest, Grasslands, Marine) In this activity students will be given cards with pictures of different organisms within a biome. opossums. Omnivores eat both plants and other animals. The top layer or canopy contains giant trees that grow to heights of 75 m (about 250 ft) or more. These are one of the most commonly sighed mammals in the Amazon Rainforest. Gorillas eat leaves, shoots, stems, roots and bark. Disturbances drive plant growth and plant community structure in many different ecosystems, including highly productive tropical forests, where, for example, an increase in light underneath a treefall gap can increase plant growth and alter plant community structure (Brokaw & Grear, 1991).Beyond primary producers, higher trophic levels are influenced by disturbances as well. In South American Amazon rain forest one can find herbivores such as the Capybara, a large South American rodent that can adapt to rivers, lakes, and ponds and doesn't live in the water all the time. Some plants depend on herbivores to help them spread their seeds. It is classified as an insectivorous omnivore, meaning that its diet consists mostly of insects but can also include: These animals are currently endangered due to their limited habitat being destroyed and superstitions regarding their body parts, which some believe to have magical powers or medicinal properties. Who eats autotrophs? By Staff Writer Last Updated March 24, 2020. What are the decomposers in the tropical rainforest? The typical diet of the tropical forest omnivore includes plants, fruits, nuts, pollen, a variety of insects and sometimes even honey. c. Omnivores. Tocos are probably the most recognizable member of the toucan family. Which major change to the ecosystem will probably not change this plant population. It is about the same size as a chipmunk and lives most of its life in the trees. These are one of the most commonly sighed mammals in the Amazon Rainforest. (a) Primary consumer (b) Tertiary consumer (c) Producer (d) Secondary consumer. The forest is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet, with thousands of fish, plant, bird and mammal species. Carnivores in Manaus and their Niches. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. They eat insects, small animals, roots, and bulbs. Organisms that can feed on autotrophs as well as on heterotrophs are known as: A. omnivores B. carnivores C. primary consumers D. producers E. herbivores What type of food would be consumed by a. Woodland creatures like red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and opossums inhabit woodlands and eat a varied diet. Twitter Consider one of the plant species that is consumed by the herbivores. Tropical rainforests are found in the equatorial zone in Central America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia (see map above). Animals which eat both plants and other animals are known as what? Zip. The squirrel monkey can reach up to 14 inches tall and up to 2.4 pounds. They live in the Canopy and Understory forest layers. The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is a massive snake that is found in forests throughout the Americas and also the Caribbean islands. Despite harsh conditions, some animals thrive in hot, dry desert climates. Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. These unique ecosystems are typically found along the equator. The carnivores that do exist have adapted to be able to hunt above ground in the forest canopy as well as on the ground; they have also adapted to eat smaller prey. The omnivores include of many monkeys and marmosets, lion tamarinds, chimpanzees, and bears. Decomposers, such as termites, slugs, scorpions, worms, and fungi, thrive on the forest floor. Scavengers are organisms that help decompose dead matter. The Sumatran rhinoceros is a critically endangered species as it has been hunted extensively for its horns which are used to prepare traditional medicines in China and Vietnam. What is the name given to animals that feed on both plants and meat? Red-Eyed Tree Frog - The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is an extremely colorful, and popular, species of frog. They sleep by day stuck to leaf-bottoms with their eyes closed and body markings covered. What climate characteristics are most closely associated with the tropical rainforest biome? . What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? What biome would most likely have the greatest species richness? Which major change to the ecosystem will probably not change this plant population. Some omnivores of the tropical rainforest are the toucan, the poison dart frog, the blue and gray tanager, and the hybrid spider. Photo by Judy Gallagher on Flickr. The word omnivore denotes an animal that eats both plants and animals, including insects. What biotic component of an ecosystem characterizes a biome? Let's enjoy some (occasionally surprising) examples of omnivores. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? What are the dominant types of vegetation and animal species that live there? Copyright 2021 Palm Healing Lite. Are trees herbivores carnivores or omnivores? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A large number of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and predators like the jaguar inhabit this layer. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Which of the following biomes is characterized by abundant water resources? The chimpanzee's favorite foods are fruits, leaves and foliage. Fact 2: Rainforests are the forests that receive a high amount of . Why do most animals in a tropical rain forest live in the trees? The carnivores, the top of the tropical rainforest food chain, consist of leopards, jaguars , lynx, bears, cougar, owls, some birds, weasel, raccoons, some insects, snakes, rodents, lizards, and more. Many omnivores evolved to their current state after several years and are opportunistic feeders. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These are woodland creatures that eat both plants and meat. These animals usually root in the forest soil for their food and in the process create pits that fill with water when it rains, providing a home to insect larvae, frog tadpoles, and even some fish species. They are not carnivores, however. A peccary is a pig-like mammal that lives in the tropical forests of both South America and the rain forests of Africa, India and Asia. to 100, making a lot of noise! Which major change to the ecosystem will probably not change this plant population. It is one of the most powerful eagles of Africa but is now classified as Near Threatened by IUCN due to the large-scale destruction of its habitat. copyright 2003-2023 Homework.Study.com. What is the biotic factor "decomposer"? Consider one of the plant species that is consumed by the herbivores. What are the differences between carnivores, herbivores and omnivores? coatimundis. d. Savanna. Large predators are uncommon in tropical rainforests because large prey species are also rare. . Although, habitat loss is a major threat to the animal, it still exists today. a mountain range located next to a large lake. They quietly roam around Since omnivores hunt and are hunted, they can be both predators and prey. The . A large number of reptiles, insects, and amphibians also occur in this layer. 28. The babirusa is usually found in swamps and along streams. These organisms will be representative of producers, consumers, decomposers, herbivore, carnivores and omnivores. The world's most famous tropical rain forest is the Amazon rain forest of South America. The Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) is found in the forests of central Africa. These tropical rainforest animals feed on tree leaves and buds, fruits, ferns, and fungi. The fishing genet is a small mammal that eats fish but hates to swim; instead of hunting prey in the water, it attracts fish from the river bank, then dives in to catch them. Jaguars (Panthera onca) are the largest of the big cats native to North and South America. It lives in the canopy layer of the rainforests where it feeds exclusively on nectar, fruits, and flowers. Mongooses are another small mammal that hunts snakes, insects, eggs and small mammals and birds. Tropical and subtropical forests are the other types of deciduous forests. The Most Dangerous Animals Of The Amazon Rainforest, Meet 12 Incredible Conservation Heroes Saving Our Wildlife From Extinction, India's Leopard God, Waghoba, Aids Wildlife Conservation In The Country, India's Bishnoi Community Has Fearlessly Protected Nature For Over 500 Years, Wildfires And Habitat Loss Are Killing Jaguars In The Amazon Rainforest, In India's Sundarbans: Where People Live Face-To-Face With Wild Tigers, Africa's "Thunderbird" Is At Risk Of Extinction. Rainforests are diverse and exist on multiple continents . About Important producers of the tropical rainforest include bromeliads, fungi, lianas, and canopy trees. The Canopy is Super Thick. d. Tropical wet forests. Primary Consumers: These are various herbivores (as well as some omnivores and insectivores) that feed on the producers (plants). The chimpanzee rarely hunts other small forest animals like pigs and antelopes. monkey, widespread throughout the rainforest. Omnivores generally occupy the third trophic level alongside meat-eating carnivores. Provide an example of this in both a plant and an animal. In an ecosystem, can there be more carnivores than herbivores? There can be many roles in an ecosystem, but for now lets look at the producers in the Tropical Rain forest. Yes, deer can be seen everywhere in the world, except for Australia and Antarctica. Some scavengers found in a tropical rain forest are velvet worms, king vulture, ants and giant millipedes. bats. Omnivores in the rain forest? It covers and area of 1,112,000 square miles, almost twice the size of Alaska. Power plants and other industries cut and burn trees to generate electricity. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. (a) Heterotroph (b) Herbivore (c) Autotroph (d) Carnivore. Many omnivorous animals--animals that eat other animals but also supplement their diets with plants--live in the rainforest as well. Thus, these trees appear to emerge over the canopy layer. a. insectivore b. carnivore c. omnivore d. ruminant herbivore, Which of the following can synthesize its own food? The most notable rainforest omnivores are the wild forest pigs which are found in both the New and Old World. For this reason, they are often known as ' cloud forests '. Unfortunately, they are hunted for the pet trade and for their fur. They also feed on roots, insects, and small animals. a. Deserts. What are the herbivores and omnivores of the tropical rain forest? The mountain gorilla, as its name suggests, is a species that ranges into . Tapir. The site is highly acclaimed by a number of the world's leading tropical scientists. 3 to 4 females and 1 to 3 males of this primate species live together in one group. B. primary consumers. These animals are nocturnal, frugivorous, and arboreal in nature. a. temperate grasslands b. savannas c. tropical rain forests d. tundra, Which of the following organisms would occupy a high trophic level? a. autotrophs b. herbivores c. omnivores d. carnivores. Carnivores are what kind of consumer? the middle canopy in small groups, looking for fruits, seeds, leaves andalso insects. Many monkeys, tree frogs, and birds are some of the omnivores that live in the Amazon Rain Forest. squirrels. Raptors such as hawks and owls also hunt small mammals in rainforests, and the giant harpy eagle hunts monkeys. A majority of the largest trees of the rainforest, growing up to 30 to 45 m in height, are found in this layer. Animals that hunt other animals are known as predators, while those that are hunted are known as prey. What are some common carnivores in the tropical rainforest? The Secondary Consumers - the jaguar and boa constrictor. Shade-tolerant shrubs, small trees, woody vines, and herbs comprise the vegetation of this layer. The typical diet of the tropical forest omnivore includes plants, fruits, nuts, pollen, a variety of insects and sometimes even honey. Here are a few primary consumers in the tropical rain forest: Sloth Lemurs Grasshopper Humming Bird Gorilla Macaw Fruit Bats Insects Now here are a few secondary consumers: Parrot Frog Monkey Jaguar Iguanas Vampire Bat Red-Eyed Tree Frog I can tell you that there are way more consumers than just these ones. Would you classify it as temperate forest, temperate grassland, or another biome? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The spider monkey has long, strong limbs to help it to climb through the rainforest trees. There are herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores. How have plants and animals adapted in the Savanna ecosystem? bats. A temperate rainforest is a forest that receives a high amount of rainfall and is located in a temperate region (i.e., between the tropics and the polar regions in both the north and south hemispheres). This is an Amazon Rainforest Food Web.See if you can identify all the parts of the food web that make this a functioning, healthy ecosystem. e. Piscivores. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Tropical evergreen forests of India are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, which fringe the Arabian Sea, the coastline of peninsular India, and the greater Assam region in the north-east. To which ecological trophic level do desert globemallow belong? What are 10 herbivores in the rainforest? What animals are found in the Congo rainforest? Bromeliads Survive on Air and Water Alone. A. Taiga and Rainforest B. a. The Producers and Consumers of the Tropical Rainforest. Red Brocket Deer. This a BUNDLE of all 6 biomes. A small carnivorous mammal that eats, Which of these forest types has increased in recent years? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Theme: Envo Blog. The jaguar--the second largest rainforest cat--faces similar problems and are also endangered but can still be found in the Orinoco and Amazon river basins. d. Herbivores. Bears are the largest of the forest omnivores. Plants are A. herbivores. a. tropical b. subtropical c. boreal d. temperate, Which biome is characterized by a coniferous forest with low average temperature and moderate rainfall? They eat tropical fruit, spiders, lizards, frogs, snakes and even plunder nests of smaller birds, taking eggs and nestlings. The African . The eagle primarily feeds on mammalian prey like small ungulates, small primates, birds, and lizards. It is one of the largest species of the hornbill family. A small, common monkey, found throughout western Amazonia. Tigers are the largest species of rainforest cat; however, they face extinction due to habitat loss and hunting. 1 INTRODUCTION. These animals include fennec foxes, dung beetles, Bactrian camels, Mexican coyotes, sidewinder snakes and thorny devil lizards. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Howlers live high up in the forest canopy. Is allowance for doubtful accounts a credit balance? Pigs are generally herd animals that move in groups ranging from 5-25 individuals. The Gorillas of the African forests are almost completely herbivores eating mostly insects. These herds are strongly territorial and some of the larger species will actually maim and kill larger animals (including humans) that attempt to pass through their territory. The canopy is the most distinctive layer of the rainforest forming a roof over the forest floor and the understory layer. In which biome would the extinction of an animal species have the least impact? a mountain range located 30 degrees north of a tropical rainforest. raccoons. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Victoria. An organism that breaks down dead organisms such as leaves, and thus helps to recycle nutrients is specifically called a(n): a. omnivore b. autotroph c. decomposer d. herbivore e. none of the above.