Food Chains, Food Chains, Scavengers & Scavengers & DecomposersDecomposers““they’re everywhere!”they’re everywhere!”

What’s A Food Chain?What’s A Food Chain? Scientists use a kind of flowchart Scientists use a kind of flowchart

called a food chain to show how called a food chain to show how living things are connected living things are connected together.together.

A food chain is a convenient way to A food chain is a convenient way to show how energy moves among show how energy moves among living things in an ecosystem.living things in an ecosystem.

Some food chains are longer than Some food chains are longer than others, and more than one others, and more than one consumer can be part of a food consumer can be part of a food chainchain

For example…For example…

Scavengers & Scavengers & DecomposersDecomposers

All living things eventually die (sad, isn’t All living things eventually die (sad, isn’t it?)it?)

All consumers generate waste materials All consumers generate waste materials from the food they eat (gross, isn’t it?)from the food they eat (gross, isn’t it?)

Our planet would be covered in dead Our planet would be covered in dead corpses and waste materials if not for a corpses and waste materials if not for a special group of consumers.special group of consumers.

These consumers get the matter and energy These consumers get the matter and energy they need from wastes, dead plants and they need from wastes, dead plants and dead animalsdead animals

They are known as scavengers & They are known as scavengers & decomposers!decomposers!

ScavengersScavengers Scavengers are consumers that don’t Scavengers are consumers that don’t

usually kill for their own food.usually kill for their own food. Instead, they feed off the remains of Instead, they feed off the remains of

living things that are killed by other living things that are killed by other consumers.consumers.

Crows, Ravens, and housefly larva Crows, Ravens, and housefly larva (maggots) are examples of scavengers.(maggots) are examples of scavengers.

DecomposersDecomposers Decomposers are consumers that Decomposers are consumers that

break-down (decompose) animal break-down (decompose) animal wastes and dead plants and animals.wastes and dead plants and animals.

Fungi such as mushrooms and the Fungi such as mushrooms and the mould you see growing on bread, mould you see growing on bread, fruits and vegetables are fruits and vegetables are decomposers. decomposers.

Many kinds of bacteria are Many kinds of bacteria are also decomposers. also decomposers.

Decomposers Are Decomposers Are EssentialEssential

Decomposers keep us and other Decomposers keep us and other living things from being buried in living things from being buried in dead bodies, feces and urinedead bodies, feces and urine

Their actions mean that plants Their actions mean that plants always have a supply of nutrients always have a supply of nutrients available to themavailable to them

Class WorkClass Work

Read pages 42 &43 in our Science Power 7 Read pages 42 &43 in our Science Power 7 booksbooks The Clean-up Squad: Scavengers and The Clean-up Squad: Scavengers and

Decomposers.Decomposers. In your science notebook define each of the In your science notebook define each of the

following terms and give an example.following terms and give an example. Scavenger, Decomposer, Micro-organismScavenger, Decomposer, Micro-organism

Also answerAlso answer Why are scavengers and decomposers essential to Why are scavengers and decomposers essential to

food chains/webs?food chains/webs? It is too noisy!It is too noisy!