Explain why food webs and energy pyramids show the flow of energy but the cycling of matter
A.The sun continually replenishes the earth's energy, but the earth has a constant amount of matter
B.The sun continually replenishes the earth's and matter
C. The Earth has a constant amount of energy and matter
D. The Sun continually replenishes the earth matter, but the earth has a constant amount of energy
The correct answer is A. The sun continually replenishes the earth's energy, but the earth has a constant amount of matter.
Food webs and energy pyramids show the flow of energy because they illustrate how energy is transferred from one organism to another in an ecosystem. Energy flows through an ecosystem as it is captured by producers (plants), transferred to primary consumers (herbivores), and then to secondary and tertiary consumers (carnivores). The energy ultimately dissipates as heat or is lost from the system.
On the other hand, the cycling of matter refers to the recycling and reusing of various elements and compounds in an ecosystem. Unlike energy, matter is not constantly replenished from external sources. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other essential elements are cycled through the environment through processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and various biogeochemical cycles.
While the sun provides a constant energy input to the ecosystem, the matter present on Earth remains relatively constant. Elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are continuously recycled between living organisms, soil, water, and the atmosphere. Therefore, food webs and energy pyramids mainly show the flow of energy, while the cycling of matter is vital for maintaining the availability of essential elements in an ecosystem.