Which statement about nutrients in an ecosystem is true?

Which statement about nutrients in an ecosystem is true?

• A. Nutrients are consumed and never returned to the environment.
• B. Only producers use nutrients.
• C. Nutrients cycle through producers, consumers, and decomposers, returning to the environment.
• D. Nutrients move only from soil to water.

Answer: (C)

Nutrients move through an ecosystem in cycles, moving between living things and the environment. Plants take up nutrients from soil and water to grow, and animals obtain nutrients by eating plants or other animals. When organisms die or produce waste, decomposers break them down and release those nutrients back into the soil, water, or air, making them available again. This recycling keeps nutrients circulating rather than getting used up. That’s why nutrients cycling through producers, consumers, and decomposers and returning to the environment is true. If nutrients were consumed and never returned, or if only producers used them, or if nutrients moved only from soil to water, the ecosystem wouldn’t be able to sustain life over time.

Nutrients move through an ecosystem in cycles, moving between living things and the environment. Plants take up nutrients from soil and water to grow, and animals obtain nutrients by eating plants or other animals. When organisms die or produce waste, decomposers break them down and release those nutrients back into the soil, water, or air, making them available again. This recycling keeps nutrients circulating rather than getting used up. That’s why nutrients cycling through producers, consumers, and decomposers and returning to the environment is true.

If nutrients were consumed and never returned, or if only producers used them, or if nutrients moved only from soil to water, the ecosystem wouldn’t be able to sustain life over time.