Science Common Sense

865 - How do ecosystems function, and what are their key components?

Imagine an ecosystem is like a big team working together. It's made up of living and non-living things that help each other. The key components are:

1. Producers (plants, algae): They make their own food using sunlight, water, and air.
2. Consumers (animals): They eat producers or other consumers.
3. Decomposers (bacteria, fungi): They break down dead plants and animals into nutrients.
4. Water: It's essential for all living things.
5. Air: Many living things need oxygen to breathe.
6. Soil: It provides nutrients and homes for plants and animals.

These components work together in a cycle:

• Producers make food using sunlight and water.
• Consumers eat producers or other consumers.
• Decomposers break down dead things into nutrients.
• Nutrients go back into the soil, air, and water.
• The cycle starts again.

Ecosystems can be forests, oceans, deserts, or even your backyard. They all need these key components to function.