ABSTRACT

The forest is an example of a typical ecosystem. Its trees and other plant producers use the sun's energy and nutrient chemicals to make organic products. These are eaten by the consumers, which release nutrients back to the plant roots in the soil. Symbols show general system relationships. The producer and consumer symbols can be used with or without the inside details, but the interaction, storage, and feedback are always implied. The chapter shows the dispersal of energy from all storages and processes is shown with the heat sink. Dispersed energy cannot do work again. Most of the solar energy used in the production process is dispersed by its use. The energy symbols show the way in which the producer and consumer parts of an ecosystem are connected, use energy, recycle materials, and use their storages to help interaction processes. In an economic system, the money is used to pay for goods and services.