What does matter and energy always flow from in an ecosystem and why does energy flow into and out of the biosphere but matter does not?
Murtadha Shukur
The flow of matter and energy in an ecosystem is a complex but fascinating process. Here's a breakdown:
Energy Flow:
- Source: The ultimate source of energy for most ecosystems is the sun. Solar energy enters the biosphere through photosynthesis, a process by which plants and other organisms like algae use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce organic compounds and oxygen.📷Opens in a new window📷es.slideshare.netSolar energy enters the biosphere through photosynthesis
- Direction: Energy flow in an ecosystem is one-directional, meaning it cannot be recycled. It flows from producers (autotrophs) to consumers (heterotrophs) through a series of trophic levels. At each level, some energy is lost as heat, and the remaining energy is available to the next level in the food chain.📷Opens in a new window📷www.geeksforgeeks.orgEnergy flow in an ecosystem
- Loss of Energy: As energy flows through an ecosystem, it is gradually lost as heat at each trophic level. This is because organisms use some of the energy they consume to carry out life processes, such as movement, growth, and reproduction. The remaining energy is released as heat, which cannot be used by other organisms in the ecosystem.
Matter Flow:
- Cycling: Unlike energy, matter is not lost from an ecosystem. Instead, it is cycled through the living and nonliving components of the ecosystem. This cycling is driven by decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, which break down dead organisms and waste products into their inorganic components. These inorganic nutrients are then taken up by plants and used to build new organic matter.📷Opens in a new window📷biologydictionary.netMatter cycling in an ecosystem
- Reservoirs: Matter can be stored in different reservoirs within an ecosystem, such as the atmosphere, oceans, and sediments. These reservoirs play an important role in regulating the availability of nutrients for living organisms.
In summary:
- Energy: Flows from the sun into the biosphere through photosynthesis and then out of the biosphere as heat.
- Matter: Cycles within the biosphere and is not lost.
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