Is the sun also a part of an ecosystem?

Question

sun in the ecosystem

Answer 1

"ecosystem" is a coined word, part of which is based on the Greek "oikomene" (from which we get "economy") which means "household". The implication is that it involves natural forces and living creatures interactinv. In the case of the sun system, the amount of life is small (mostly a "scum" on the surface of one small rock orbiting it) but YES, the sun is a potent component of many of our eco-systems. Think of the sun in relation to the production of VItamin D (in humans) and chlorophyll (in green plants).

Answer 2

The criteria for deciding whether a certain element (such as the Sun) is needed in a given ecosystem (say, our Solar System) is: Would the ecosystem survive and continue without that element?

The answer in this case is, of course, No. Even if we could still grow food food somehow, generate power for heat somehow, the absense of the Sun's gravitational pull would leave us hurtling out of orbit, spinning off like a Frisbee or something. So, yes, for any ecosystem within our Solar System, the Sun plays some fundamental part, or it would not BE in our Solar System. And actually since we dont fully understand how gravity works, it could be argued our Sol plays an important, but less fundamental role in the ecosystmes of nearby solar systems. How many children were born here on Earth just because, nine months earlier, a man said to a woman, "The stars look GORGEOUS tonight! How romantic!"

Answer 3

An ecosystem is the interaction of living and non-living things in a relatively small area, such as a pond, or a meadow.

Your question is good though, because those living things need the sun obviously. I think I would still say no, it is not part of the ecosystem, but the producers depend on the sun's energy to maintain the ecosystem.

Answer 4

Definitely!! The sun plays an important role in nature's ecosystems, especially in wetlands and forested areas. Sunlight is essential to plant growth which produces oxygen and it also provides the chemical reactions necessary to decompose dead vegetation and regenerate the system's ability to sustain life.

There are many different types of ecosystems. It can be a swamp, forest, river, desert, an ocean, or a man made system such as a lake or a wildlife sanctuary. In all cases, the amount of sunlight, it's intensity and the amount of rainfall/snowfall determines what species of plants, trees and living creatures make up the structure of any particular ecosystem.

Answer 5

Absolutely the sun is part of an ecosystem. In an ecosystem, you have living and non-living things. All living things are dependent on both non-living and other living things for their survival. All living things are either directly or indirectly dependent on the sun for their survival. You can't have an ecosystem without the sun.

Answer 6

without the sun there is no ecosystem

Answer 7

Yes. Sun dictates the system.We need to adapt.

Answer 8

yes...because plant has a relationship to the sun...

Answer 9

yea it should be