Give Scientific reasons.
1. Plants in an ecosystem are called producers.
2. The flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional.
3. The flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is cyclic.
4. Decomposers are crucial biotic factors in any ecosystem.
1. Plants are called producers in an ecosystem because they are not dependent on other organisms to meet their food requirements. Plants are capable enough to prepare their own food by utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide and water from the environment.
2. The flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional i.e., always from the Sun to the living things. The ultimate source of energy in all ecosystems is the Sun. Plants receive energy from the Sun and transfer some part of this energy to the next trophic level. Other organisms utilize some part of the energy for metabolism and release rest of the energy in the form of heat. No energy in the ecosystem is transferred back to the Sun in any form. Thus, the flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional.
3. The flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is cyclic. Every organism needs nutrients for growth. Plants obtain nutrients from the soil. These nutrients are further transferred from the plants to other organisms via food chain. When these organisms die, decomposers act on them and return the nutrients back into the soil. Thus, the flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is cyclic.
4. Decomposers carry out the most important step of any food chain i.e., decomposition. They break down dead organisms and return nutrients back into the soil and thus, help in maintaining the constant flow of nutrients in an ecosystem. Therefore, decomposers play a crucial role in any ecosystem.