Ecosystems: The Building Blocks of Nature
Ecosystems consist of both biotic factors (living components like plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria) and abiotic factors non−livingcomponentsliketemperature,water,sunlight,andsoil. These components work together to create functioning natural systems.
Energy flows through ecosystems in a one-way direction. It starts with producers (mostly plants) that convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. This energy then passes to consumers (animals that eat plants or other animals) and finally to decomposers (fungi and bacteria) that break down dead organisms.
Nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus continuously cycle through ecosystems. Unlike energy, nutrients don't flow one way but instead get recycled. Plants absorb these elements, animals consume them, and decomposers release them back into the environment for reuse.
Quick Fact: While energy can only flow in one direction through an ecosystem (and is eventually lost as heat), nutrients are constantly recycled—making decomposers like fungi and bacteria essential for ecosystem health!