( ( ( ( ( describe ( ( the flow ) ( of ( ( matter and ) energy ) ) ) ) ( through ( ecosystems ( -LRB- ( ( ( e.g. , ) ( ( ( the ( hydrologic cycle ) ) , ) ( the ( carbon cycle ) ) ) ) -RRB- ) ) ) ) ) and ) ( ( explain ( ( the relationship ) ( of ( these flows ) ) ) ) ( to ( ( ( ( ( ( ( landforms , ) climate ) , ) soils ) , ) and ) vegetation ) ) ) ) ; )
(ROOT (S (VP (VP (VB describe) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN flow)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN matter) (CC and) (NN energy)))) (PP (IN through) (NP (NP (NNS ecosystems)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (NP (NNP e.g.)) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ hydrologic) (NN cycle)) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NN carbon) (NN cycle))) (-RRB- -RRB-))))) (CC and) (VP (VB explain) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN relationship)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT these) (NNS flows)))) (PP (TO to) (NP (NP (NNS landforms)) (, ,) (NP (NN climate)) (, ,) (NP (NNS soils)) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (NNP vegetation)))))) (: ;)))
describe the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems (e.g., the hydrologic cycle, the carbon cycle) and explain the relationship of these flows to landforms, climate, soils, and vegetation;
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT A) (JJ primary) (NN role)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS decomposers)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT an) (NN ecosystem)))))) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBZ cycle) (NP (NN matter)) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VBG returning) (NP (NN carbon) (CC and) (JJ other) (NN matter)) (PP (TO to) (NP (DT the) (NN ecosystem)))))))))) (. .)))
A primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem is that they cycle matter by returning carbon and other matter to the ecosystem.