What substance do yabbies consume as ecosystem engineers in their native Australian habitats?
Answer
Detritus
In their native Australian settings, yabbies play a vital role in ecosystem maintenance by actively consuming detritus. Detritus is defined as the decomposing organic material found settled on the substrate or bottom of the aquatic environment. This feeding habit is central to their function as ecosystem engineers because this scavenging behavior facilitates the crucial process of nutrient recycling within the water body, preventing stagnation and utilizing otherwise unusable organic waste.

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