#1. What do decomposers do?
They decompose, or break apart, ALL sorts of dead things and recycle themback into the environment.
#2. What do decomposers turn the stuff they break down into?
Basically, they turn it into nutrients that other organisms need like
water, oxygen, calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
#3. Besides animals, what are the two other types of
decomposers?
Microscopic bacteria and fungi of ALL sizes.
#4. True or False: Without decomposers we wouldn’t have air to breathe.
TRUE!! Because without them dead things wouldn’t be recycled into food for
plants and algae and that would mean less oxygen in the air.
#5. How big is the biggest known earthworm?
The African giant earthworm can get up to 21 feet long!
#6. What are the segments, or rings, that make up an
earthworm’s body called?
Annuli.
#7. True or False: dung beetles are a type of mammal.
FALSE! Beetles are invertebrates, which are NOT mammals.
#8. What do “roller” type dung beetles do?
These beetles dig out chunks of dung and roll them into balls.
#9. Why do roller-type dung beetles do what they do?
The females pick the “nicest” poop ball to lay their eggs in, so the males
want THEIR dung ball to be the best!
#10. WHY ON EARTH do dung beetles EAT dung in the first place?
Because when larger animals digest things, there are pieces that don’t get totally digested so are still nutritious for the beetles.
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