In the ecosystem, what role do green plants serve?

Green plants serve as producers in the ecosystem due to their ability to perform photosynthesis, a process where they convert sunlight into energy and organic materials using carbon dioxide and water. This ability to create energy-rich organic compounds is vital, as it forms the foundation of the food chain. Through photosynthesis, green plants produce glucose, which not only serves as their own source of energy but also provides energy to the herbivores that consume them.

The producers are essential for the ecosystem as they supply energy to all higher trophic levels, including primary consumers (herbivores) and secondary consumers (carnivores). Without producers, the entire food web would collapse, as there would be no energy source for other organisms. The role of green plants as producers is thus pivotal in sustaining life within ecosystems.

Inactive matter does not contribute actively to energy flow, while consumers and decomposers have different functions and are dependent on producers for energy and nutrients. Consumers rely on producers for their food, and decomposers break down dead organic matter to return nutrients to the soil, which ultimately supports the producers.