Flashcard Review- Why Do Dead Things Disappear Over Time?

Front

What is an independent variable?

Back

An independent variable is the factor that is changed or controlled in an experiment to test its effects on the dependent variable.

Front

What is a decomposer?

Back

A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What role do decomposers play in the ecosystem?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients, helping to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

Front

What is a consumer in an ecosystem?

Back

A consumer is an organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms.

Front

What type of consumer is a grasshopper?

Back

A grasshopper is a herbivore, which means it primarily eats plants.

Front

What is the significance of larvae in the decomposition process?

Back

Larvae, such as maggots, help break down dead animals by feeding on their flesh, speeding up decomposition.

Front

Why do flies appear on dead animals?

Back

Flies are attracted to dead animals to lay their eggs, which will hatch into larvae that feed on the decaying matter.

Front

What is the difference between herbivores and carnivores?

Back

Herbivores eat plants, while carnivores eat other animals.

Front

What happens to nutrients when an organism dies?

Back

When an organism dies, decomposers break it down, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for plants.

Front

What is the food chain?

Back

A food chain is a sequence that shows how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem.