Most food chains start with a producer, go through consumers, and end with a decomposer. Why are decomposers so important in the cycle of life? There are four organisms you'll research for this assignment. Answer the questions in the chart. Then create a food chain for each organism. 1. In which ecosystems would you find this organism (choose one if you find multiple ecosystems)?

2. What does this organism eat or how does it get its energy?

3. How does this organism return nutrients to the ecosystem?

4. Write an example of a food chain that includes this organism. (It does not have to be the end. Example: dead animal  flies and maggots  frog)

5. Include a citation for each source used in the second table.

Decomposer Example Ecosystem What does this organism eat or how does it get energy? How does this organism return nutrients to the ecosystem? Example of a food chain of which this organism is a part

Fungi

Snail

Earthworm

Pill bug

Source of Information: provide the specific source information, including Internet website address, book information, journal information, etc.

Fungi

Snail

Earthworm

Pill bug