Question

Which of the following statements represent the correct relationship?

• A. Producers → Consumers → Decomposers → Nutrients
• B. Nutrients → Producers → Consumers → Decomposers
• C. Nutrients → Consumers → Decomposers → Producers
• D. Decomposers → Consumers → Nutrients → Producers

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

The correct options are
A

Producers → Consumers → Decomposers → Nutrients

B

Nutrients → Producers → Consumers → Decomposers

Producers, consumers, decomposers and abiotic factors are all part of an ecosystem. Producers are plants and herbivores like cows or goats depend on producers for their food. The herbivores are consumed by carnivores. The dead remains of plants, herbivores and carnivores are broken down by decomposers like bacteria and fungi. The nutrients formed as a result of decomposition are returned to the soil and are made available for plant growth. So both flows represent the correct sequence of the relationship between producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Producers → Consumers → Decomposers → Nutrients

Nutrients → Producers → Consumers → Decomposers