1. All organisms eventually grow old and die, but can something that is dead, dying or decaying provide energy or fuel?
Absolutely!! Scientist call this Biomass!!
Biomass is a type of Resource that comes from matter formed by plants or animals and is used as a fuel!
Biomass can come from wood, Peat (decomposed plant material), and dried animal Dung.
Biomass has 2 definitions: For our purposes we are only going to concentrate on one!.. Later on when we study Ecology we will reintroduce Biomass
Please tell students: Biomass has 2 definitions: For our purposes we are only going to concentrate on one!.. Later on when we study Ecology we will reintroduce Biomass

2. Using what you know about Cellular Respiration, Explain what chemically happened to the organic material in Barrel A over time. think Large Molecules…Small molecules…and think about who or what may have helped)
Decomposers chemically Broke Down the large molecules of organic material into smaller molecules, causing the biomass to breakdown and release heat!
Barrel A May 2010 Barrel
Barrel A November 2010

3. Questions to ponder:
Does composting Release Heat?
Let’s take a look..Click on the compost pile
Where does the heat from the chemical breakdown of biomass go?

4. Compost pile that is really steaming!!
Steam, steam, and more steam.! Where does it Go?
The heat that is released is lost to the atmosphere.
Steam, steam, and more steam.
Leon collecting those bags of leaves.
Leon using his front-loader to turn the pile

5. What is the advantage of using decayed biomass from a compost in a garden?
Because, the decomposers break down the large organic molecules, it makes the soil rich in nutrients and easier for the plants to absorb!
The plants easily absorb the molecules because they have been broken down already for the plants!
Glucose breaks down into CO2, water and Heat Energy!