To Recycle Nutrients, an Ecosystem Must Have, at a Minimum

Question

To recycle nutrients, an ecosystem must have, at a minimum,
A) producers.
B) producers and decomposers.
C) producers, primary consumers, and decomposers.
D) producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers.
E) producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, top carnivores, and decomposers.

Accepted Answer

Producers create organic matter from inorganic substances, which is consumed by primary consumers. When the primary consumer dies, decomposers break down its organic matter and return nutrients to the ecosystem, completing the nutrient cycle. Therefore, for a nutrient cycle to occur, producers and decomposers are the minimum requirement.