Mystery 3 Web of Life: Where do fallen leaves go?

Where do the leaves on the forest floor go after they fall?

• They are raked up by forest rangers.

• They decompose (rot).

• They are buried under the soil and covered up by dirt.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What breaks down the leaves that fall on the forest floor?

• Water

• Bacteria

• Roots

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What are the white colored strings or threads that grow on

leaves on the forest floor?

• Mushroom roots

• Seeds from nearby plants

• Roots of nearby trees

How do the white threads on leaves cause a leaf to break down or decompose?

• There is a liquid that is released that starts to break apart the leaf.

• There are tiny insects in the white threads that begin to eat parts of the leaves.

• The leaf is covered and can no longer breathe so it it dies.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Mushrooms are a type of ________________________.

• Producer

• Consumer

• Decomposer

What do mushrooms eat?

• Dead leaves, insects, or wood

• Nothing. Mushrooms do not eat.

• Mushrooms eat the white stuff that grows in decomposing leaves.

What is the black stuff that is left behind after leaves decompose?

• Fungus

• Soil

• Mushrooms

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What would happen if we didn’t have mushrooms?

• The plants would be much healthier.

• We wouldn’t have any soil.

• Trees would grow much taller than they do now.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4