The Dirt on Decomposers

For lots of different living things, waste is actually a good source of ___ 

• shelter
• energy
• water
• life

Organisms, like bacteria, insects and worms, that break down waste are called ___

• carnivores
• herbivores
• decomposers
• omnivores

Energy flows through a system of living things in a "what eats what" model called ___

• the carbon cycle
• a food chain
• the water cycle
• an energy line

The food chain example, from the video, had energy flowing from the mouse to the ___

• tree
• raccoon
• apple
• owl

Where do decomposers fit in a food chain?

• at the beginning
• at the end
• in the middle
• any time there's waste

Decomposers break waste down into ___

• bacteria and some fungi
• nutrients and other chemicals
• plants and trees
• insects and worms

Chemicals go into the ground and are taken up by ___

• the sun
• plants
• decomposers
• animals

In an ecosystem, decomposers break down ___

• nutrients
• waste
• insects
• worms

Which organisms keep waste from piling up in an ecosystem?

• decomposers
• plants
• mice
• owls

Losing the decomposers in a food chain would completely mess up ___

• the Lion King movie
• a clean desk
• the nice balance
• the garbage