Question

The importance of ecosystem maintenance lies in

• A. Cycling of materials
• B. Flow of energy
• C. Both of the above
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C Both of the above

An ecosystem comprises of biotic and abiotic components which interact with each other to maintain an equilibrium. A major focus of ecosystem ecology is on functional processes, ecological mechanisms, that maintain the structure and services produced by ecosystems. These include primary productivity (production of biomass), decomposition, and trophic interactions. The various trophic levels of an ecosystem interact with each other by a flow of energy and cycling of materials from one trophic level to the other.