The organic content of the dead and decaying organisms is broken down to inorganic substances by the process called decomposition. It is brought about by decomposers. Decomposition is mainly an oxygen dependent process and its rate is dependent on chemical composition and climatic factors. Decomposers play a vital role in energy flow through the ecosystem and also in making available the essential nutrients to the producers. Saprophytes are organisms that show saprophytic nutrition where the organisms digest decaying organic matter extracellularly. Bacteria and fungi show saprophytic nutrition and participate in the decomposition process in the food chain.