Can cycling of matter different from flow of energy in an ecosystem & microorganisms in soil recycle carbon from leaves so carbon is used for plant growth?
Energy flows straight through the ecosystem; it is lost as heat at each step, but it is never recycled. Matter is recycled and is not lost from the ecosystem. Microorganism decomposes the lead leaves from the old tress. They break up the leaves and release the nutrient and carbon into the environment. the new leaves photosynthesis and use the Carbon that was broken down in respiration to make glucose which is used to make new cells.