Ecosystem Components and Functions

What is an ecosystem?

• All the living things in an area

• All the non-living things in an area

• All the living and non-living things that interact in an area

• Only the plants and animals in an area

What are the three main types of living things in an ecosystem?

• Plants, animals, and humans

• Producers, consumers, and decomposers

• Herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores

• Trees, rocks, and water

What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?

• Make their own food from sunlight

• Eat other animals for energy

• Break down dead plants and animals into nutrients

• Only eat plants

What can happen if an ecosystem becomes unbalanced?

• All animals will become omnivores

• Plants will grow faster and bigger

• Animals might not have enough food, and soil can wash away

• The weather will always be good