Dead Stuff: The Secret Ingredient in Our Food Chain


Resource ID#: 118076 Primary Type: Tutorial
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Direct Link: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/dead-stuff-the-secret-ingredient-in-our-food-chain-john-c-moore

When you picture the lowest levels of the food chain, you might imagine herbivores happily munching on lush, living green plants. But this idyllic image leaves out a huge (and slightly less appetizing) source of nourishment: dead stuff. John C. Moore details the "brown food chain," explaining how such unlikely delicacies as pond scum and animal feces contribute enormous amounts of energy to our ecosystems.

General Information

Subject(s): Science
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Intended Audience: Students
Suggested Technology: Computers for Students, Internet Connection
Keywords: food chain, food web, detritus, organic matter, photosynthesis
Instructional Component Type(s): Tutorial
Resource Collection: Science - Biology - Grades 9-12 Existing Student Tutorials

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