B506 - Decomposers

What is the primary role of decomposers in the ecosystem?

• To hunt and prey on other organisms
• To provide energy for plants
• To break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients
• To compete with other organisms for resources

What are decomposers?

• Microscopic organisms that live in the soil
• Animals that feed on dead organisms
• Plants that grow in nutrient-rich soil
• Living organisms that break down and recycle dead plants and animals

How does composting mimic natural decomposition?

• By using bacteria and fungi to break down organic matter
• By using chemicals to break down organic matter
• By using earthworms to break down inorganic matter
• By using heat to break down organic matter

Which of the following is NOT an example of a decomposer?

• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Grasshopper
• Earthworm

How do decomposers contribute to the balance of the ecosystem?

• By hunting and preying on other organisms
• By providing energy for plants
• By breaking down dead organisms and recycling nutrients
• By competing with other organisms for resources

What is the role of decomposers in the ecosystem?

• To hunt and prey on other organisms
• To release nutrients back into the soil
• To provide energy for plants
• To compete for resources with other organisms

What is the process of decomposition?

• The breakdown of rocks and minerals
• The breakdown of living organisms
• The breakdown of inorganic matter
• The breakdown of organic matter

What would happen if there were no decomposers in the ecosystem?

• Nutrients would be locked up in dead organic matter
• New plants would not be able to grow
• The balance of the ecosystem would be disrupted
• All of the above

What is the role of decomposers in the food chain?

• To provide energy for plants
• To break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients
• To compete with other organisms for resources
• To hunt and prey on other organisms

Which of the following is NOT a nutrient that is recycled by decomposers?

• Carbon
• Lead
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus