Name:______________________________
Period:_______
Date:_________________
Decomposers
OBJECTIVES:
 SWBAT recognize that decomposers can obtain nutrients from any part of the food chain.
 SWBAT list examples of decomposers (fungi, bacteria, etc.)
 SWBAT explain the role of decomposers in returning nitrogen and nutrients into the soil.
 SWBAT define decomposer (an organism that obtains energy from dead organic matter.)
Checklist (Check off each item as we complete it)
DO NOW
Explicit Instruction
Activity #1 (guided practice)
Activity #2 (independent Practice)
DO NOW:
EXIT TICKET
1. In your own words, what is decomposition? How does it help cycle carbon in an ecosystem?
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2. Maple trees and tulips are classified as autotrophs because they both
(1) Produce gametes by the process of mitosis
(2) Produce carbon dioxide and water as metabolic wastes
(3) Are able to obtain complex organic materials from the environment
(4) Are able to synthesize organic molecules from inorganic raw materials
3. Which statement concerning the producers in the ecosystem to the right is correct?
1) An increase in the types of producers will most likely decrease
the available energy for the squid.
(2) A producer in this ecosystem is zooplankton.
(3) If all the producers in this ecosystem are destroyed, the number of
heterotrophs will increase, but the ecosystem will reach an equilibrium.
(4) Since there is only one group of producers, their numbers must be
large enough to supply the energy for the rest of the food web.
FRUIT AND VIDEO DECOMPOSTION VIDEO
Fungi and Bacteria in Food Webs
Bacteria
Fungi
Brain Storm:
Observations and Predictions about Fungi and Bacteria in Ecosystems
Role of Decomposers in scenarios
Examples of Decomposers:
Decomposers
My definition- _____________________________________________________________________
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Class definition- __________________________________________________________________
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Activity #1: GUIDED PRACTICE
The diagram below represents some energy transfers in an ecosystem.
1. Which type of organism is most likely represented by letter X?___________________________________
2. Why is a mushroom considered a heterotroph?
(1) It manufactures its own food.
(2) It divides by mitosis.
(3) It transforms light energy into chemical energy.
(4) It obtains nutrients from its environment.
3. Decomposers are necessary in an ecosystem because they
(1) produce food for plants by the process of photosynthesis
(2) provide energy for plants by the process of decay
(3) can rapidly reproduce and evolve
(4) make inorganic materials available to plants
Activity #2: INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
1a. Which type of organism can obtain energy directly from any of the other organisms in an ecosystem?
(1) herbivore
(2) decomposer
(3) producer
(4) carnivore
1b. Explain how the organism you selected obtains energy from any other organism in the ecosystem
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2. Which statement describes a role of fungi in an ecosystem?
(1) They transfer energy to decaying matter.
(2) They release oxygen into the ecosystem.
(3) They recycle chemicals from dead organisms.
(4) They synthesize organic nutrients from inorganic substances.
The chart below depicts various organisms in an ecosystem arranged according to their type of nutrition
3. Which group performs
autotrophic nutrition?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
4. Which group contains
decomposers?
(1) A
(2) B
(3) C
(4) D
Grasses
Daisies
Maple Trees
Birch Trees
Deer
Cricket
Chipmunk
Falcon
Lizards
Foxes
Fungi
Mold
Bacteria
The process illustrated in the sequence to the right occurs constantly in the biosphere.
converts
into
5. Which type of organism is most likely represented by X? _________________________________
6. Different students drew illustrations of the flow of energy in an ecosystem. Which is most accurate?
7. What would most likely happen if most of the bacteria and fungi were removed from an ecosystem?
(1) Nutrients resulting from decomposition would be reduced.
(2) Energy provided for autotrophic nutrition would be reduced.
(3) The rate of mutations in plants would increase.
(4) Soil fertility would increase.
8. Abiotic factors that affect the growth of grass in a lawn include
(1) bacteria and soil (2) earthworms and nutrients (3) nitrogen and carbon (4) fertilizer and decomposers
The diagram below depicts organisms and processes and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
Process Z
9. Describe the cycle which provides organisms in an ecosystem with essential
minerals. In your answer be sure to identify:
 The type of organism represented by X
 The process Z which organism X carries out
 Two minerals that can be released by process Z
 State an organism that benefits from process Z and explain how it benefits
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EXTRA CREDIT
10. Organisms that are able to manufacture organic nutrients from abiotic substances in the environment are
classified as
(1) heterotrophs
(2) decomposers
(3) predators
(4) autotrophs
11. Organisms that are able to release inorganic nutrients from biotic substances in the environment are
classified as
(1) heterotrophs
(2) decomposers
(3) predators
(4) autotrophs
12. Two food chains are represented below.
Food chain A: aquatic plant
insect
frog
hawk
Food chain B: grass → rabbit → hawk
Decomposers are important for supplying energy for
(1) food chain A, only
(2) food chain B, only
(3) both food chain A and food chain B
(4) neither food chain A nor food chain B
EXIT TICKET
Summarize today’s lesson on decomposers. You may wish to include specific examples of decomposers, how they
obtain their nutrients, and explain the role of decomposers in returning nitrogen and nutrients into the soil.
Your summary must be a well detailed paragraph (this means five sentences)!!
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Complete the following:
a) In your own words, write down the objective for today’s lesson:
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b) On a score of 1 to 10, (10 being the highest)score your understanding of this class .
My score : ______________________________________
Explain why you gave yourself this score.
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c) One thing I learned is that:
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d) I need help with:
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