Why are producers an essential component of an ecosystem

Producers are an essential component of an ecosystem because they create food from inorganic matter for the consumers to eat. Plants like lichens and algae are key producers that convert water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. If not for producers, the consumers probably would not have as much or any food to eat!

Explanation:

i believe it's c. the trait for large beaks will be passed on to future generations through natural selection.

since eventually smaller beaks would have to find another source of food or even eventually just die out from the lack of food.