Which process is primarily carried out by producers in an ecosystem?

• A. Nitrogen fixation
• B. Photosynthesis
• C. Decomposition
• D. Cellular respiration only

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of producers in an ecosystem: Producers, such as plants, algae, and some bacteria, are organisms that can create their own food using energy from the environment. They are the foundation of the food chain.
2. Identify the processes listed in the question: Nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, decomposition, and cellular respiration. Each of these processes has a distinct biological function.
3. Clarify the process of photosynthesis: Producers use photosynthesis to convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose. The general equation for photosynthesis is: $6_{\mathrm{CO}}+6_{H}O\to C_6{H}_{\mathrm{12}}{O}_6+6_O$. This process is unique to producers and is essential for energy flow in ecosystems.
4. Compare photosynthesis to the other processes: Nitrogen fixation is carried out by certain bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants. Decomposition is performed by decomposers to break down organic matter. Cellular respiration occurs in all living organisms to release energy from glucose, but it is not exclusive to producers.
5. Conclude that photosynthesis is the primary process carried out by producers in an ecosystem, as it is the mechanism by which they produce energy-rich compounds that sustain themselves and other organisms in the food chain.