Decomposers break down dead plants and animals. They also break down the waste of other organisms. They are an important element in the food chain because they keep up a continuous flow of nutrients for the primary producers.
When these animals eat these plant products, food energy and organic compounds are transferred from the plants to the animals. ... You can also refer to the diagrammatic representations of food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids. A food chain describes how energy and nutrients move through an ecosystem.
Consumers are organisms that receive energy by consuming other organisms. Consumers dominate most of a food chain. They have important roles to play within an ecosystem such as balancing the food chain by keeping in a animal populations at a reasonable number. Without proper balance, an ecosystem can collapse.