Why are decomposers important in an ecosystem? Decomposers break down dead organisms, and return important NUTRIENTS to the soil. NUTRIENTS are things that organisms need to grow. Nutrients include food, but also important minerals such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc). Plants don’t get their food (energy) from the soil, but they DO take up these other nutrients. Then, when we or other animals eat plants, we get these additional nutrients from the plants. Our bodies use these nutrients for normal life functions. For example, iron is important for transport of oxygen in our blood, and calcium is an important mineral for the formation of strong bones and teeth. Are the terms autotroph and producer interchangeable? Why or why not? YES – these terms are interchangeble (meaning they can be switched for each other all the time, and they always mean the same thing.) Autotroph and producer both always refer to organisms that make their own food (for energy), using the energy of the sun. They mean exactly the same thing. Are the terms consumer and heterotroph interchangeable? Why or why not? These terms are NOT interchangeable. If you look at the class notes from the handout below, you can see that although all consumers are heterotrophs, not all heterotrophs are consumers (some heterotrophs are decomposers.) So, you can’t switch “consumer” and “heterotroph” because they don’t mean exactly the same thing.
Why are decomposers important in an ecosystem? Decomposers break down dead organisms, and return important NUTRIENTS to the soil. NUTRIENTS are things that organisms need to grow. Nutrients include food, but also important minerals such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc). Plants don’t get their food (energy) from the soil, but they DO take up these other nutrients. Then, when we or other animals eat plants, we get these additional nutrients from the plants. Our bodies use these nutrients for normal life functions. For example, iron is important for transport of oxygen in our blood, and calcium is an important mineral for the formation of strong bones and teeth. Are the terms autotroph and producer interchangeable? Why or why not? YES – these terms are interchangeble (meaning they can be switched for each other all the time, and they always mean the same thing.) Autotroph and producer both always refer to organisms that make their own food (for energy), using the energy of the sun. They mean exactly the same thing. Are the terms consumer and heterotroph interchangeable? Why or why not? These terms are NOT interchangeable. If you look at the class notes from the handout below, you can see that although all consumers are heterotrophs, not all heterotrophs are consumers (some heterotrophs are decomposers.) So, you can’t switch “consumer” and “heterotroph” because they don’t mean exactly the same thing.