saprobiology

sap·ro·bi·ol·o·gy (săp'rō-bī-ŏlʹə-jē) n.

The study of decaying organisms or environments, especially as a branch of ecology.

  sap'ro·bi'o·logʹi·cal (-bī'ə-lŏjʹĭ-kəl) adj. sap'ro·bi·olʹo·gist n.

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