Final answer:
The sun is the primary source of energy in our ecosystem, as it powers photosynthesis in plants and other photoautotrophs, who convert solar energy into chemical energy that sustains the food web.
Step-by-step explanation:
The source of energy in our ecosystem is the sun. The sun provides energy through photosynthesis, enabling plants and other photoautotrophs to produce food and energy needed by all living organisms in the ecosystem.
Energy enters ecosystems as sunlight which is harnessed by photoautotrophs such as plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. These organisms use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, releasing oxygen as a by-product. This process stores solar energy in the form of chemical energy within organic molecules. These molecules then serve as food for other organisms in the ecosystem, starting with herbivores and moving up through the food chain to carnivores and omnivores.
The majority of energy that ecosystems rely on originates from the sun, and it is this energy that initiates the flow of nutrients and energy through the food web. Plants, being the primary producers, play a crucial role in this process. Photoautotrophs capture solar energy and convert it into a form of energy that can be consumed by other life forms, making the sun the fundamental energy source in most ecosystems.