Question

Explain the role of producers, consumers and decomposers in ecosystem.

Answer 1

Ecosystem

1. It is a geographical area where living (plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria) and non-living (water, solid, sunlight, and minerals) components interact.
2. This autonomous geographical unit (ecosystem) can be natural like oceans and forests or artificial like parks and gardens.
3. The three living components ecosystem are:

1. Producers

1. These are autotrophic organisms that can synthesize their food by using inorganic molecules like water and carbon dioxide.
2. Thus, they do not depend on other organisms for their food.
3. Green plants and blue-green algae are major producers in an ecosystem that perform photosynthesis to form their food.
4. Producers are the suppliers of energy in an ecosystem. They act as food for primary consumers.

2. Consumers

1. These are the heterotrophic organisms that cannot synthesize their food.
2. They depend on other organisms to fulfilling their food needs.
3. These are categorized into herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores based on their position in the food chain.
4. Consumers help in the circulation of energy in an ecosystem.

3. Decomposers

1. These are the small microscopic organisms like fungi and bacteria that perform the function of decomposition.
2. They on organic matter or biodegradable waste to convert them into a simpler form.
3. They help in keeping the environment clean and mineral recycling.