Which of the following are the three major components of an ecosystem?

The three major components of an ecosystem are best defined as producers, consumers, and decomposers. Producers, such as plants, are organisms that can create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, thus forming the base of the food web. Consumers are organisms that depend on others for food; they can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. Decomposers, including bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the soil and facilitating the ongoing cycle of life within the ecosystem.

This choice is correct because it accurately reflects the functional roles within an ecosystem. Each component is critical for maintaining ecological balance: producers create energy from sunlight, consumers convert that energy into usable forms and engage in energy transfer through food webs, and decomposers recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Other choices do not encompass all three essential roles effectively. For instance, while options mentioning soil or specific groups like plants and animals are important, they do not capture the full scope of interactions and dependencies inherent in an ecosystem. Understanding these roles is fundamental in ecology, focusing on how energy flows and matters cycles through natural systems.