Plants and animals are living things. They come to life, grow and change. What happens when they die? Let's see.

When a living thing dies, its body stops working. It does not start again. Dead is for good.

Every living thing dies some time. Plants die. Animals die. People are living things too.

Some lives are short. A full-grown mayfly does not eat. It lives a day or two. That is long enough to lay eggs. Some lives are long. A Galapagos tortoise can live over a hundred years. One at the San Diego Zoo lived to about 150.

Living things use energy to work and to fix themselves. A body that has died can not do that.

So where does a dead plant or animal go? It is food. Bacteria, fungi and earthworms eat it. They are called decomposers.

Worms eat dead plants and animals. They burrow, and that loosens the soil.

Decomposers break dead things down into nutrients. These go back into the soil. Plants can use them again.

A dead tree can fall and be a nurse log. Small trees grow on it. They get shade, nutrients and water.

When a whale dies, it sinks to the sea floor. Its body feeds deep-sea animals. This is a whale fall.

Salmon die after they lay eggs. Their bodies feed animals or rot. That adds nutrients to the stream. Decomposers are nature's recyclers. Without them, waste would pile up.

People and families believe different things about death. Ask yours. Feel sad or worried? Talk to a grown-up you trust. That could be a parent, a teacher or a doctor.

Words to know

• decomposers: tiny recycling helpers
• nutrients: food for growing
• recyclers: use things again
• burrow: dig a tunnel