Which one among the following phenomena includes processes, such as production, predation, nutrient transformation, and the influx and efflux of energy and materials ?
Ecological function
Ecosystem function
Ecosystem structure
Biogeochemical cycles
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This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2011
Ecosystem functions are the physical, chemical, and biological processes that take place within an ecosystem. These include primary production (conversion of light energy into organic matter, ‘production’), consumption (herbivory, predation), decomposition (breakdown of organic matter, leading to ‘nutrient transformation’), and the overall flow of energy and cycling of materials (‘influx and efflux of energy and materials’). These processes describe how an ecosystem works and maintains itself.