A rabbit was captured and consumed by a coyote in the forest. The rabbit remains

(skin, bones, intestines, and some muscle) were left by the coyote on the ground.

What answer best describes what happens to the rabbit remains over time.

• They disappear• They are absorbed by plants• They are transformed into heat energy• They are broken down by other organisms

Describe your thinking. Provide an explanation for your answer.

• Fruit

What happens when things decompose (rot)?

1. What causes the fruit to decompose?2. What happens to the matter that makes up

the fruit?3. What happens to the energy that was stored

in the fruit?

What happens to plants that aren’t eaten by consumers?

What is the role of decomposers?

Small organismsWorms, insects

MicroorganismsFungi, bacteria

Decomposers

• Detritivores- Small organisms (worms, insects) break down waste and dead organisms into smaller parts.

• Saprotrophs- Microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) digest the smaller parts into chemical forms that can be used by plants.

WILL STERILIZING KILL DECOMPOSERS?

PREDICTIONS Room Temperature

Refrigerator Incubator (warm place)

Sterilized

Not sterilized

1. Fill in the table below telling whether or not you will observe decomposition in each container:

NON STERILIZED—REGULAR BREAD

REFRIGERATOR ROOM TEMP INCUBATOR

STERILIZED BREAD

REFRIGERATOR ROOM TEMP INCUBATOR

RESULTS Room Temperature

Refrigerator Incubator (warm place)

Sterilized

Not sterilized

Measuring carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) concentrations in closed containers with decomposing bread

Sterilized bread, incubated in DARKCO2

Sterilized bread, incubated in DARKO2

Non-sterilized, incubated in DARKCO2

Non-sterilized, incubated in DARKO2

Non-sterilized, incubated in LIGHTCO2

Non-sterilized, incubated in LIGHTO2

• Fungi

• Oyster Mushrooms