TED-Ed: Dead stuff: The secret ingredient in our food chain - John C. Moore

The video explores the origins of food and its connection to detritus, highlighting how all species in an ecosystem are nourished by dead matter. It explains photosynthesis as the process that transforms CO2 and water into glucose, forming the base of food chains. The video contrasts green and brown food chains, emphasizing that most plant matter becomes detritus, which supports ecosystems. It discusses the complexity of food webs, where detritus plays a crucial role, and concludes with nature's recycling system, where waste becomes energy for life on Earth.

What is the primary source of organic matter in our bodies?

• Carbon dioxide and water

• Nitrogen and oxygen

• Sulfur and phosphorus

• Hydrogen and helium

What happens to the majority of plant matter in terrestrial ecosystems?

• It is used for photosynthesis

• It evaporates into the atmosphere

• It becomes detritus

• It is consumed while alive

What role do microbes and scavengers play in the brown food chain?

• They create oxygen

• They consume detritus

• They decompose rocks

• They produce glucose

How are food chains connected within an ecosystem?

• Through direct competition

• Through a single pathway

• By forming a food web

• By isolating each chain

Which of the following animals is likely to feed directly on detritus?

• Elephant

• Catfish

• Lion

• Eagle