Fighting for Scraps

Front

What are scavengers?

Back

Scavengers are animals that feed on dead organisms, helping to break down and recycle nutrients in the ecosystem.

Front

What do bone-eating worms do?

Back

Bone-eating worms consume the bones of dead marine animals, such as whales, and play a crucial role in the decomposition process.

Front

What is the role of dung beetles in the ecosystem?

Back

Dung beetles bury dung in the soil, which helps fertilize plants and recycle nutrients.

Front

What happens to a whale carcass after it dies?

Back

After a whale dies, scavengers like sleeper sharks and hagfish strip off its soft tissues, while other organisms, like bone-eating worms, consume the bones.

Front

What percentage of a carcass can insects eat in 5 days?

Back

Insects can eat up to 90% of a carcass in just 5 days.

Front

What is the significance of scavengers in the food chain?

Back

Scavengers help clean up dead animals, preventing the spread of disease and returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Front

What are some examples of scavengers?

Back

Examples of scavengers include vultures, hyenas, sleeper sharks, hagfish, and dung beetles.

Front

What surprising discovery was made at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute?

Back

Researchers discovered a new species of bone-eating worms.

Front

How do scavengers contribute to the environment?

Back

Scavengers contribute by breaking down dead matter, recycling nutrients, and supporting the health of ecosystems.

Front

What do sleeper sharks and hagfish do when a whale dies?

Back

They strip off most of the whale’s soft tissues.