Imagine the ecosystem of your local park has gone through a harsh winter, and the total energy contained within the ecosystem is relatively low. To increase the total amount of energy entering the ecosystem, which of the following types of organism could you introduce into the park?

• A. Primary producers (autotrophs).
• B. Primary consumers.
• C. Consumers (heterotrophs).
• D. Decomposers.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of primary producers in an ecosystem. Primary producers, also known as autotrophs, are organisms that can produce their own food using sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. They are the foundation of the food chain and are responsible for converting solar energy into chemical energy, which is then available to other organisms in the ecosystem.
2. Consider the energy flow in an ecosystem. Energy enters an ecosystem primarily through primary producers. They capture solar energy and convert it into organic compounds, which serve as food for other organisms. This process increases the total energy available in the ecosystem.
3. Evaluate the options given in the problem. Primary consumers, consumers (heterotrophs), and decomposers rely on the energy produced by primary producers. They do not increase the total energy entering the ecosystem; instead, they utilize the energy already present.
4. Identify the correct type of organism to introduce. Since primary producers are responsible for increasing the total energy entering the ecosystem, introducing more primary producers would enhance the energy availability in the park.
5. Conclude that introducing primary producers (autotrophs) is the most effective way to increase the total energy entering the ecosystem, as they are the only organisms capable of converting solar energy into chemical energy, thus boosting the energy content of the ecosystem.