2) Producers/Decomposers

The ability of an ecosystem to get energy and recycle nutrients depends on what?

producers and decomposers

What depends on producers and decomposers?

the ability of an ecosystem to get energy and recycle nutrients

What do producers provide?

the basis for the ecosystem’s energy

What provides the basis for the ecosystem’s energy?

producers

What is a producer?

an organism that uses energy from nonliving resources to manufacture food

What is an organism that uses energy from nonliving resources to manufacture food?

a producer

What are different types of producers?

plants algae, seaweed, and photosynthetic microorganisms

Plants, algae, seaweed, and photosynthetic microorganisms are what?

different types of producers

What uses energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and carbohydrates?

producers that contain chlorophyll

What do producers that contain chlorophyll use?

energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars and carbohydrates

What are examples of producers that contain chlorophyll?

plants, algae, and cyanobacteria

Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria are examples of what?

producers that contain chlorophyll

What do chemosynthetic producers use?

chemical energy to produce carbohydrates

What use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates?

chemosynthesic producers

Chemosynthetic producers are usually

bacteria

Bacteria are usually

chemosynthetic producers

How do producers make food for an entire ecosystem?

When other organisms eat producers, they use the carbohydrates as an energy source

When other organisms eat producers, they use the carbohydrates as an energy source, which is how

producers make food for an entire ecosystem

What is a decomposer?

an organism that breaks down organic matter into simpler compounds

What is an organism that breaks down organic matter into simpler compounds?

a decomposer

What are some examples of decomposers?

fungi, bacteria, some worms, and insects

Fungi, bacteria, some worms, and insects are examples of what?

decomposers

Why are decomposers important to the stability of an ecosystem?

because they take vital nutrients, such as nitrogen and carbon, out of dead organic matter and return these nutrients to the environment, where they can be picked up and used again by other organisms

Decomposers take vital nutrients out of dead organic matter and return these nutrients to the environment, where they can picked up again by other organisms, which is why

decomposers are important to the stability of an ecosystem

Energy flows through an ecosystem in what direction?

producers to consumers

What flows from producers to consumers

energy through an ecosystem

Why does the stability of any ecosystem depend on the presence of producers?

because they convert the sun’s energy into food for the entire ecosystem

Producers convert the sun’s energy into food the entire ecosystem, which is why

the stability of any ecosystem depends on the presence of producers

Why do ecosystems generally have more than one type of producer?

the more producers, the more food available, the more stable the ecosystem

The more producers, the more food available, the more stable the ecosystem, which is why

ecosystems generally have more than one type of producer

Nutrients cycle _

from the environment to organisms and back to the environment

What cycles from the environment to organisms and back to the environment?

nutrients

What are decomposers responsible for?

cycling nutrients between dead and living organisms

Who are responsible for cycling nutrients between dead and living organisms?

decomposers

If decomposers were not present in an ecosystem,

dead matter would not be removed and would pile up rapidly

Dead matter would not be removed and would pile up rapidly if

decomposers were not present in an ecosystem

If nutrients were not cycled back into the environment,

nutrients would gradually become unavailable for other organisms

Nutrients would gradually become unavailable for other organisms if

nutrients were not cycled back into the environment

Without the proper flow of nutrients,

the ecosystem would become unbalanced

The ecosystem would become unbalanced without

the proper flow of nutrients