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w do producers, consumers and decomposers support each other?

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Mossie Auer

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3y ago

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What descirbes both a food chain and food web?

Explain how producers consumers and decomposers all have an ecosystem support the population within it


How many trophic levels a rain forest ecosystem can support?

A rainforest ecosystem can support up to five trophic levels, including producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and decomposers. The high biodiversity and energy availability in rainforests allow for the existence of multiple trophic levels.


Why are there more producers than consumers in any stable ecosystem?

There are typically more producers than consumers in a stable ecosystem because producers form the base of the food chain and support all higher trophic levels. This pyramid shape reflects the energy transfer between organisms, with producers capturing energy from the sun and consumers relying on the energy stored in plants. So, the abundance of producers is essential to sustain the ecosystem.


What ecosystem might have a pyramid of numbers where there are less producers than consumers?

If the producers happen to be large trees, they can be small in number but still have a large biomass, therefore allowing them to support a community of more consumers.


In an ecosystem which would have a larger population producers or primary consumers?

Producers generally have a larger population compared to primary consumers in an ecosystem. This is because producers, such as plants, algae, and phytoplankton, form the base of the food chain and are able to support a larger number of organisms at higher trophic levels. Primary consumers, such as herbivores, depend on producers for energy and nutrients, so their population size is usually lower than that of producers.


Why do animals need decomposers?

Decomposers are essential to maintaining a health ecosystem. Animals are part of a natural cycle which moves energy and organic matter to all living organisms. The cycle flows from producers to consumers (animals and other heterotrophs) to decomposers. Decomposers break down dead organisms (plants, animals, etc) into basic organic matter. The organic matter then becomes the building blocks for producers such as plants, phytoplankton and seaweed. Animals then eat these producers completing the cycle. Without decomposers the tissues of dead organisms would build up and the organic matter and nutrients within them would not be available to support new life, thus breaking the cycle.


What are the basic requirements of an ecosystem?

The basic requirements of an ecosystem include a source of energy, such as sunlight for photosynthesis, nutrient cycling to support plant growth, a water source for plants and animals, and suitable habitats for a variety of organisms to live and interact. Additionally, a functioning ecosystem requires biotic factors like producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as abiotic factors such as soil, air, and temperature.


Why must an ecosystem have more producers than consumers?

When the producer is eaten by the consumer, it is an exchange of energy. Ironically, 90% of the energy that the producer had is lost, and the consumer only receives 10% of it. Therefore, to get enough energy to survive, the consumer must eat more producers, meaning that, to sustain the consumers, there must me many more producers.


Does energy flow through an ecosystem?

Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, which is called the food chain. It's like a pyramid. At the bottom are producers. The producers contain the most energy gotten from the sun. The next are primary consumers. Consumers obtain energy by eating the producers The next layer are the secondary consumers. There may be another layer of consumers if there is enough energy in the system. Sunlight --> producers (100% of the energy) --> primary consumers (10%)---> secondary consumers (1%) The decomposers return some nutrients to the system are are active at all levels. As you move up each level the energy decreases. For example: Kcal = Kilocalorie (energy) For example: Grass, a producer produces 1,000 Kcal The grass is eaten by mice or rats, the primary consumer and gets 100 Kcal The mice or rat are eaten by ferrets, the secondary consumer and gets has 10 Kcal. The ferrets are then eaten by owls, the apex consumer gets 1 Kcal which may not be enough to support the owls. It can not go any further. In an ecosystem the energy flow depends on the 10% law.That is when energy is being transferred from producers to consumers and from consumers to herbivores carnivores ,etc. only 10 %energy stored in the previous level is taken and used by the next Trophic Level. energy flow (E) can be defined as the sum of metabolic production (P) and respiration (R), such that E=P+R. Below is the energy flow in the ecosystem: sun - Producer - Consumer - Decomposers - Inorganic nutrient pool.


How do producers affect an ecosystem?

Producers play a key role in ecosystems by converting sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, which serves as the foundation of the food chain. They provide food and energy for other organisms, support biodiversity, and help regulate nutrient cycling and oxygen production. Changes in the abundance or distribution of producers can have cascading effects throughout the ecosystem.


Differentiate of complete and incomplete ecosystem?

A complete ecosystem has all necessary biotic and abiotic factors to support a wide variety of organisms and their interactions, creating a balanced system. An incomplete ecosystem lacks certain components or functions, leading to instability and potentially limiting the diversity of species that can thrive within it.


What is a long-term effect of the increased primary productivity of a terrestrial ecosystem?

it can be A)The ecosystem will not be able to support as many tertiary consumers. B)It will decrease the amount of energy transferred to higher trophic levels. C)The ecosystem will be able to support more organisms at higher trophic levels.Eliminate D)The ecosystem will become stagnant due to excess producers and organisms in higher trophic levels will die out.