How do energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem?

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An ecosystem is made up of producers, consumers and decomposers.

Energy and nutrients are transferred from producers to consumers to decomposers through feeding.

PRODUCERS

• Energy from the sun/light energy is converted by producers into chemical energy and stored as food during photosynthesis.


• Producers are mainly green plants.


• Producers are are the only organisms that can manufacture or produce complex organic food from inorganic raw materials.


• Thus, producers either directly or indirectly affect the lives of other organisms because they provide both energy and oxygen.

CONSUMERS

• Energy is obtained their energy by feeding on other organisms.


• Thus, all animals are consumers.


• Herbivores (plant-eaters) feed directly on plants, hence they are only known as primary consumers.


• Carnivores that feed on herbivores are know as secondary consumers.


• Carnivores that feed on other carnivores are tertiary consumers.

DECOMPOSERS

• Decomposers obtain their energy bu breaking down dead organisms, faeces and excretory products. (When dead organisms and waste matter are broken down, the materials lcoked up in them are released.)


• These materials, such as inorganic nutrients, carbon and nitrogen compounds, are returned to the physical environment and are used again by green plants.