Understanding Decomposers and the Food Chain

Professor Diogo introduces decomposers, explaining their role in breaking down dead matter and recycling nutrients back into the environment. The video reviews the food chain, highlighting producers and consumers, and emphasizes the importance of decomposers in maintaining ecological balance. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, are crucial for recycling organic matter. The video concludes with an invitation to a practical activity to observe decomposers in action.

What is the primary role of decomposers in nature?

• To hunt other animals

• To consume only plants

• To break down dead organic matter

• To produce their own food

Which organisms are capable of producing their own food through photosynthesis?

• Producers

• Herbivores

• Decomposers

• Carnivores

What are primary consumers in the food chain?

• Animals that eat plants

• Microorganisms that decompose matter

• Animals that eat other animals

• Plants that produce food

How do decomposers differ from other organisms in the food chain?

• They produce their own food

• They consume only living organisms

• They break down dead matter

• They are the largest organisms

What is a common characteristic of decomposers?

• They only eat plants

• They are often microscopic or small

• They are found only in water

• They are usually large animals

Which of the following is NOT a decomposer?

• Fungi

• Herbivores

• Mold

• Bacteria

What happens to organic matter during decomposition?

• It is broken down into simpler substances

• It is turned into energy

• It disappears completely

• It becomes a new organism

What do decomposers return to the environment?

• New plants

• Energy

• Minerals and nutrients

• Water

Why is the process of decomposition important for the ecosystem?

• It provides food for producers

• It recycles nutrients back into the soil

• It creates new species

• It stops the growth of plants

What is the purpose of the practical activity mentioned in the video?

• To study the water cycle

• To learn about herbivores

• To see decomposers in action

• To observe the growth of plants