13. How does a biosphere work? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

A biosphere works just like our planet does, just on a micro-scale. The biosphere starts with a source of physical and/or chemical energy, such as sunlight, artificial light or, in some instances, chemical energy. Green plants are the primary producers; they take the light energy and convert it to biomass. This biomass is then eaten by the primary consumers (herbivores). The herbivores are then eaten by the secondary consumers (the carnivores or parasites). When the producers or consumers die they become food for the decomposers. The decomposers' waste products are nutrients that are utilized by the primary producers (back to the green plants!). Every ecosystem has a different and unique set of organisms, including any habitat that we might develop for space travel.

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Answer provided by Gregory Schlick

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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