Content Transparency #5B

Use with Chapter 5, pp. 148–149

How are minerals and

nutrients recycled?
Decomposers eat waste and dead matter. They break material into
smaller pieces and put it back into the soil. Living organisms can
then use the minerals and nutrients from waste. Decomposers help
recycle minerals and nutrients.

Slime mold decomposes

A banana slug matter and may eat
eats material on bacteria as well.
the forest floor.
A fungus releases The millipede eats pine
special chemicals to break needles and other leaves that
down a log. The fungus have fallen from trees.
soaks up materials from the
log to use as food.

© Pearson Education, Inc.

Grade 5 • Life Science