Step 1: Understand that viruses are tiny infectious agents that can infect living organisms, including bacteria.
Step 2: Recognize that viruses can help control the number of bacteria in an ecosystem by infecting and killing them.
Step 3: Realize that when bacteria are killed by viruses, it can release nutrients back into the environment.
Step 4: Acknowledge that these released nutrients can then be used by other organisms, like plants and other microbes, which helps maintain a balanced ecosystem.
Step 5: Conclude that by regulating bacterial populations, viruses play an important role in nutrient cycling and overall ecosystem health.
