Lesson Check: Role of Decomposers

How do decomposers help plants?

• They help with photosynthesis.

• They enrich the soil.

• They provide oxygen.

• They hold water.

________________ can sprout from the soil like plants, but cannot make its own food.

• Fungi

• Grass

• Moss

• Shrubs

Energy and other materials from dead organisms are recycled back into the soil by _____

• producers

• herbivores

• omnivores

• decomposers

Organisms, such as fungi and ________________, that break down dead organisms and return them as nutrients to the soil, are known as ________________.

• bacteria; decomposers

• plants; producers

• insects; consumers

• algae; scavengers

How does placing compost in your garden improve the natural environment?

• It makes the soil harder.

• It makes the soil unusable.

• It helps keep insects away.

• It makes the soil rich in nutrients.

(a)   break down decaying material in an ecosystem.

• Producers

• Decomposers

The job of decomposers is to break down dead plants and animals into useful substances. This job is their ___________.

• adaptation

• skill

• niche

• habitat

Predict how drought could affect the amount of food for each organism shown in the model of the ecosystem.

• Drought could decrease the amount of food for each organism in the ecosystem.

• Drought could increase the amount of food for each organism in the ecosystem.

• Drought would have no effect on the amount of food for each organism in the ecosystem.

• Drought could cause only the predators to have more food in the ecosystem.

Predict how the ecosystem would be affected if the decomposers shown in the model die.

• Nutrients would not be recycled, disrupting the ecosystem balance.

• Plants would grow faster due to more nutrients.

• Predators would increase rapidly.

• The ecosystem would remain unchanged.

What would most likely happen to the nutrient levels in soil if decomposers were removed from an ecosystem?

• Nutrient levels would increase rapidly.

• Nutrient levels would decrease over time.

• Nutrient levels would stay the same.

• Nutrient levels would only affect animals.