Detritus (biology)

Okay kiddo, you know how when we eat food, there are some things we can't digest like the peel of an orange or the bones of a chicken? Well, animals and plants do the same thing too! They eat food and then there are some parts that they can't digest. These parts that are left over are called detritus.

Detritus is made up of all kinds of things like dead leaves, broken twigs, and maybe even some poop! Yuk! But wait, there's more! Detritus can also include tiny organisms like bacteria, fungi, and worms that eat up all the leftover bits to turn them into something useful for the environment.

And why is detritus important? Well, because it helps plants grow! When detritus is broken down by all those tiny organisms, it releases important nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients help plants grow big and strong, which then feed animals who eat the plants. So, you see, detritus might seem gross, but it's actually really important for keeping our ecosystem healthy!