* Ecosystems are self-sustaining: An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (biotic factors) and their physical environment (abiotic factors) that interact as a unit. These interactions include the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients.
* Nutrient cycling: Nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and others are constantly moving through the ecosystem. Producers (plants) take in nutrients from the soil and air, consumers (animals) obtain nutrients by eating producers or other consumers, and decomposers (bacteria and fungi) break down dead organisms and waste, returning nutrients to the soil and air.
* Limited resources: Ecosystems have a finite amount of resources, including nutrients. Organisms rely on these resources for survival, and competition for these resources can be fierce.
Therefore, while specific nutrients may be more abundant in certain ecosystems, all organisms rely on their local environment for the full range of nutrients needed for growth, development, and survival.
