Question

Why is the expression flow used for energy exchange and cycling used to express the transfer of materials?

Group of answer choices

-Materials are repeatedly used, but energy flows through and out of ecosystems.

-Both material and energy flow in a never-ending stream within an ecosystem.

-Both material and energy are recycled and are then transferred to other ecosystems as in a flow.

-Materials can be converted into energy, but energy cannot be converted into materials.

-Materials are cycled into ecosystems from other ecosystems, but energy constantly flows within the ecosystem.

Answer 1

The nutrients and atoms cycle but the energy does not cycle in the same way. The energy joins and enters the ecosystem from the sun and then exit when the organisms have grasped the required amount of energy. The energy is released back into the biosphere in the form of heat from the organisms when the food chain or food web ends.

The flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional. The producers take the energy from the sun which is then transferred to the consumers in the higher trophic level.

Both energy and matter are transferred in an ecosystem from one form to another. The living matter and nutrients are passed from producers to consumers and then broken down and decomposed by decomposed.

The energy does not cycle in an ecosystem because energy escapes the biosphere, whereas, the materials are transferred in a cycle.

Therefore, "Materials are repeatedly used, but energy flows through and out of ecosystems" is the correct statement.

Hence, the option (a) is correct.