1. Where does the biomass from a corpse end up…….
The Body Farm
Where does the biomass from a corpse end up…….

2. Key Points Where do the biomass of a corpse end up?
What are detritus feeders?
What are decomposers?
What can make decay speed up or slow down?
Why are decomposers so important in the natural world?
How do humans make deliberate use of decomposers?

3. The body farm

4. Decay and Decomposition
When living things die, they start to decay.
This is done mainly by bacteria which secrete enzymes to break down the dead matter.
However, it happens a lot quicker if the dead matter is broken down into small pieces.
Detritus feeders, such as earthworms and woodlice, do the job of breaking larger bits of matter into smaller pieces.
The work Detritus feeders makes decay much quicker.

5. Detritus Feeders Eat dead organisms Produce their own waste material
Examples: maggots, worms, etc.

6. Flies and Maggots the maggots have mouth parts for scraping off flesh
Note the maggot’s mouthparts for scraping bits off dead flesh.

7. Beetles
There are a huge variety of beetles, some of which are detritus feeders. Some, such as the green one on the bottom right, are predators which arrive at a corpse in search of detritus feeders, such as this maggot, which it predates on.

8. ‘Clothes Moths’ – Latecomers to the Meal
These eat hair
and fur
These eat hair and fur. For more on forensic entomology, see: or

9. Decomposers
Break down dead organic matter into its basic constituents:
The carbon is released as carbon dioxide,
Minerals released back into the soil.

10. Decomposers Bacteria Fungi
Break down dead organic matter into its basic constituents: the carbon is released as carbon dioxide, and minerals released back into the soil.

11. Recycling
Bacteria are largely responsible for the recycling of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur into forms in which they can be taken up by plants

12. Best conditions for most microorganisms (and therefore decay) are…
Warm – speeds up chemical reactions
Moist – easier to dissolve food; prevents microbes from drying out
Many need oxygen to respire

13. Rate of development of the immature stages of blowflies versus
Rate of development of the immature stages of blowflies versus. temperature
The warmer it is, the sooner the flies emerge…

14. Human Use of Decomposers
Sewage treatment plants – we use microorganisms to break down the bodily waste we produce
This makes it safe to release it into rivers or the sea
Sewage works are designed to provide bacteria and other microorganisms with what they need – including a good supply of oxygen

15. Human Use of Decomposers
Compost Heaps – Grass cuttings, weeds and vegetable peelings are allowed to decompose. This happens because microorganisms break the plant material down. This compost can then be used as a fertiliser

16. Create a newspaper article on the body farm to include…..
Where do the biomass and of a corpse end up?
What are detritus feeders?
What are decomposers?
What can make decay speed up or slow down?
Why are decomposers so important in the natural world?
How do humans make deliberate use of decomposers?

17. Plan an investigation into the effect of temperature on the rate of decay.
Write a question that can be used as the title of this investigation
Identify the independent variable
Identify at least 3 control variables
Describe as fully as you can the method that you might use