Decomposer — Definition & Role
Read this topicExplanations 4
- Breaking Down Materials A decomposer is an organism that breaks down organic materials from dead organisms to obtain energy. These organisms are basically living recycling plant…
By Aaron Lauer, Deena Hauze, Valeri Natole, Mario Janakis
- What Are Decomposers? These organisms are basically living recycling plants. They take the waste of the ecosystem and dead materials and break them down for energy and other reu…
By Deena Hauze, Alex Federspiel, Valeri Natole, Mario Janakis, Gabi Slizewska
- Explanation #8756
By Sylvia Freeman, Mario Janakis, Gabi Slizewska
- (Video) Dead Stuff: The Secret Ingredient in Our Food Chain by John C. Moore on TED-Ed This TED-Ed video explores what decomposers are, what they eat, and how they process energy.
By Mario Janakis
Problems 21
- Is a fungus an autotroph or a heterotroph?
- What might happen if decomposers didn't exist?
- Why are decomposers important?
- Which of these organisms is not a decomposer?
- Which of the following is the decomposer in the food chain shown above?
- The food chain shown above is missing a decomposer. Where in the chain would you place the decomposer?
- Which of the following is likely a decomposer? Image source: By Thompsma CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Albert is a worm who acts as a decomposer in his ecosystem. He is the only decomposer left, and he is thinking of moving to a different ecosystem with better soil. Which of the …
- Which of the following organisms is a common decomposer?
- A decomposer is a(n):
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- Which of the following are cycled back into an ecosystem by decomposers? Select all that apply.
- Decomposers include a subgroup called detritovores. While most decomposers directly break down matter through chemical processes, detritovores also mechanically consume larger p…
- Why are vultures considered scavengers and not decomposers?
- Are decomposers heterotrophs or autotrophs?
- This is a food web showing the relationships between a flower, a butterfly, a mushroom, a bird, and a hawk. Are the green arrows connecting each organism to the mushroom correct…
- Some fungi live in close symbiosis with photosynthesizing algae. These groups of organisms are called lichens. Is the fungus in the lichen a producer?
- Why are decomposers considered heterotrophs?
- Fill in the blank: A decomposer takes in complex organic molecules and woahthereshouldbeanentiresentencehere‾\underline{\phantom{woahthereshouldbeanentiresentencehere}}woahthere…
- Is yeast a decomposer?
- If these fungi only use this gamma radiation to grow, would they be decomposers, consumers, or producers?
- Are decomposers saprophytes?