An ecosystem is a relationship between plants, animals and micro-organisms with their non-living environment. The interactions which occur between the living and non living sectors, the cycling of nutrients and the interaction of the spheres all lead to diversification in the operations of ecosystems. Combined, these interactions lead to the variations of ecosystems on a global scale.

Producers, consumers and decomposers all interact within an ecosystem, leading to ecosystem variations due to the types of species within the community. Produces (which are generally plants) provide a basis for the feeding of consumer organisms (mostly animals.) these plants range in size from single celled phytoplankton to large trees. The primary consumer level feed off produces and the secondary consumer level feed off primary consumers. The movement of organic matter and energy from the producer level through various consumer levels make up a food chain. For example, a typical food...