Scavengers and Decomposers

Standard 5a. Students know organisms in an ecosystem exchange energy with the environment.

Scavengers are organisms that eat dead animals or wastes from other organisms.

Hyenas eat dead zebras and buffalo

Vultures eat dead wildebeast

Crabs eat dead fish and dead shrimp

Dung beetle larvae eat animal poo

Worms eat dead animals and plants

Termites eat dead wood from trees

Bat stars eat dead sunfish

Decomposers!

Decomposers: break down dead organisms, feces, leaves and other wastes made by organisms.

Decomposers recycle nutrients from dead organisms and put them back into the soil.

Mushrooms decompose dead plants

Earthworms also decompose dead plants

Bacteria can decompose almost anything

Why are scavengers and decomposers important to the ecosystem?

Why are scavengers and decomposers important to the ecosystem?1. They recycle nutrients in the ecosystem so plants can use them to grow!2. Without them, dead matter and waste would pile up!

Mushroom Clip

Exit TicketHow do organisms depend on each other in an ecosystem?