Question

The role of inorganic nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates in a pond ecosystem is to:

Options

• Control the predator-prey relationships in the food chain

• Serve as the primary energy source for all organisms

• Supply essential minerals for plant growth and act as a substrate for rooted plants

• Regulate the decomposition rate of organic matter

Answer 1

Nitrates and phosphates are inorganic nutrients found in soil that are absorbed by producer organisms for their metabolic needs and growth. These nutrients are cycled through the ecosystem via nutrient cycling, being released during decomposition and reabsorbed by plants.