Producers, consumers, and decomposers are important parts of ecosystems. They work together in a complex network.
Producers: These are mainly plants. They use sunlight to create energy through a process called photosynthesis. For example, a forest area about the size of a soccer field can produce around 20,000 kilocalories of energy each year.
Consumers: These organisms rely on producers for energy. Most consumers are herbivores, which eat plants. Herbivores make up about 13% of all consumers and they take 10% of the energy from plants to grow. Then, there are carnivores, which eat herbivores, helping to keep nature balanced.
Decomposers: These include fungi and bacteria. They break down dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Decomposers handle about 80% of dead organic matter in land ecosystems. This keeps nutrients available for producers to use.
Together, producers, consumers, and decomposers create a flow of energy and recycle materials in ecosystems.
Producers, consumers, and decomposers are important parts of ecosystems. They work together in a complex network.
Producers: These are mainly plants. They use sunlight to create energy through a process called photosynthesis. For example, a forest area about the size of a soccer field can produce around 20,000 kilocalories of energy each year.
Consumers: These organisms rely on producers for energy. Most consumers are herbivores, which eat plants. Herbivores make up about 13% of all consumers and they take 10% of the energy from plants to grow. Then, there are carnivores, which eat herbivores, helping to keep nature balanced.
Decomposers: These include fungi and bacteria. They break down dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Decomposers handle about 80% of dead organic matter in land ecosystems. This keeps nutrients available for producers to use.
Together, producers, consumers, and decomposers create a flow of energy and recycle materials in ecosystems.