Which of the following is absolutely essential functional component of the ecosystem?
Ecosystem is composed of biotic (living) and abiotic (non living) component. Biotic component includes producers, consumers and detrivores. The producers and detrivores are absolutely essential functional components of an ecosystem because for a stable functioning of the ecosystem there must be undirectional flow of energy and cyclic flow of matter. The flow begins with the producers which convert solar energy to usable energy for other organisms and decomposers which break down the organic compounds in dead and decaying plant and animal matter into essential nutrients for the reuse by the producers. Without the producers, harvesting of sun's energy would not take place, and without the decomposers matter will not recycle through the ecosystem.