What is the primary function of a producer in an ecosystem?

The primary function of a producer in an ecosystem is to provide food for other organisms. Producers, such as plants and algae, carry out photosynthesis, converting sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. This process forms the base of the food web and is essential for supporting consumers, including herbivores and, indirectly, carnivores. By producing organic material, producers serve as the fundamental energy source for all other trophic levels in the ecosystem. Therefore, their role is crucial for maintaining the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients in the environment.

In contrast, consumers rely on producers for their energy needs, pest control is typically the role of specific predators or biological control agents in the ecosystem, and increased competition usually relates to the interactions among consumers rather than the function of producers.