1. How does the flow of energy through an ecosystem compare with cycling of matter?
i put
energy moves through an ecosystem in the form of food
am i correct??????????
That's a good start.
Then what happens?
ummm..... i don't know really
i'm struggling a little
ummm.... that producers are organisms that capture energy from the sun and use it to fuel photosynthesis
right....???
What happens to food after a person or an animal eats it? How does an animal's defecation benefit the environment?
cycling of matter is when say a rabbit (consumer) is eating plants (producer) then the rabbit dies and a vulture (scavenger) comes and eats the remains of the rabbit and the decomposers eat the skeleton of the rabbit, which gets in the soil, and makes the plants grow again, and the cycle starts all over again.
Yes. But you've ignored the defecation or disposal of waste products from food consumption.
i didn't ignore it
it helped because i googled what cycling of matter is
if i google it then i'll get a better understanding of the question
Yes, you are correct! In an ecosystem, energy flows through the different organisms in the form of food. This is known as the flow of energy. Energy enters the ecosystem through sunlight, which is captured by plants during the process of photosynthesis. Plants then become a source of energy for primary consumers (herbivores), which are then eaten by secondary consumers (carnivores or omnivores). Energy continues to flow through the different levels of consumers in the ecosystem.
On the other hand, the cycling of matter refers to the movement and transformation of elements and compounds within the ecosystem. Matter, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, is constantly recycled within the ecosystem. For example, when organisms die or produce waste, their organic matter is decomposed by decomposers (such as bacteria and fungi). These decomposers break down the organic matter into simpler forms, releasing nutrients back into the soil or water. These nutrients are then taken up by plants, starting the cycle again.
So, in summary, while energy flows through the different trophic levels in an ecosystem, matter cycles through various biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components, sustaining life within the ecosystem.