How are nutrients retained in the ecosystem? What is this process called?

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Nutrient Requirements**: Both plants and animals require nutrients to survive. Nutrients are essential for growth, reproduction, and overall functioning of organisms.

2. **Role of Producers**: In an ecosystem, producers (primarily plants) occupy the first trophic level. They absorb nutrients from the soil, which they use to create food through the process of photosynthesis.

3. **Food Chain Dynamics**: The food chain illustrates the flow of energy and nutrients through different trophic levels. After producers, there are primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores), and tertiary consumers (top predators).

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