Here's why:

* Decomposers are heterotrophs: This means they cannot make their own food like plants (autotrophs) do. Instead, they rely on consuming organic matter.

* Their role in the ecosystem: Decomposers break down dead plants and animals, as well as waste products like feces. This process releases nutrients back into the soil, making them available for other organisms.

* Energy flow: Decomposers obtain energy from the chemical bonds within the organic molecules of the dead matter they consume.

Let me know if you have any other questions!