1. FL#3

2. Standard 6e = Students know a vital part of an ecosystem is the stability of its producers and decomposers.

3. PRODUCERS/AUTOTROPH are organisms that can transform energy from sunlight and/or chemicals, and use it to produce plant matter or food. Self Feed

4. Without PRODUCERS the subsequent HERBIVORES in a FOOD CHAIN or WEB would have no source of sustenance (nutrients).

5. DECOMPOSERS are organisms that can break down (and obtain nutrients and energy from) dead organic matter. DECOMPOSERS are the “recyclers” of the ecosystem.

6. Without DECOMPOSERS organic material would not be broken down and nutrients would not be recycled back into the soil. PRODUCERS (plants) would then not be able to obtain the necessary nutrients from the soil.

9. 1. Green plants are… A. producers B. herbivores C. autotrophs D. decomposers E. both A & C

10. 2.Organisms that obtain nutrients by breaking down dead and decaying organic matter are called. A. producers B. herbivores C. autotrophs D. decomposers E. both C & D

11. 3.Green algae at the beginning of a food chain are A. producers B. herbivores C. consumers D. decomposers E. both A & C

12. 4.An organism that can make its own food is called a (an) A. heterotroph B. chemotroph C. autotroph D. consumer E. both A & C

13. 5.Decomposers are important to ecosystems because they… A. recycle nutrients B. turn organic material into inorganic nutrients C. break down dead and decaying animals and plants D. do all of the above

14. 6.Producers are important to an ecosystem because they are… A. the top of an energy pyramid in a food chain. B. the foundation of an energy pyramid in a food chain. C. producers of inorganic nutrients to be used by other organisms. D. all of the above.