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Matter is recycled, but energy is not.

In an ecosystem, matter is represented by the presence of biogeochemical elements such as Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus and Sulfur. These elements are being recycled through their respective cycles - Biogeochemical cycles (please click this http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=Biogeochemical+cycles&gwp=13).

Energy, on the other hand, is not recyclable. It is something that an organism utilizes or consumes. The 1st law of thermodynamics explains why energy is not being recycled - as an energy passes through or is being consumed by an organism, the consumer of the said organism will only utilize less of a 100% of what the organism was able to get from the 100% energy.

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What organism supplies matter and energy?

Plants, through the process of photosynthesis, supply matter and energy to most ecosystems by converting sunlight into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This energy is then transferred through the food chain as animals consume plants or other animals.


Which component of a stable ecosystem can not be recycled?

Energy cannot be recycled in an ecosystem. While matter like nutrients and water can be recycled within ecosystems, energy flows through the system and is eventually lost as heat.


What are the most important transformers of energy in ecosystems?

The most important transformers of energy in ecosystems are producers (such as plants) that convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis, and decomposers (such as bacteria and fungi) that break down organic matter into simpler compounds and release nutrients back into the ecosystem. These transformers play crucial roles in the flow of energy through the food chain.


What are the 3 types of organisms in ecosystems?

The three types of organisms in ecosystems are producers (plants that make their own food), consumers (organisms that eat other organisms for energy), and decomposers (organisms that break down dead organic matter).


If energy and matter cannot be destroyed ehat happens to energy and matter when an organism is eaten?

When an organism is eaten, the energy and matter contained in its body are transferred to the organism that consumes it. The energy is used for various metabolic processes to fuel the organism's activities, while the matter is broken down and incorporated into the consumer's own body for growth and repair. In this way, the energy and matter are not destroyed, but are rather transferred and recycled through the food chain.

Related Questions

What happens to the energy in matter that is decaying?

Energy is released.


How is the movement of matter through the biosphere difference from the flow of energy?

Unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.


How does the way that matter flows through an ecosystem different from the way that energy flows?

Unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.


What happens to matter and energy in closed system?

In a closed system, neither the energy or matter changes. (Study Island)


How is the movement if matter through the biosphere different from the flow of energy?

Unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.


How matter and energy move through an ecosystem?

Energy and matter (mass) move through ecosystems from the bottom of the pyramid to the top. The bottom contains most of the matter and therefore the most energy. About 10% is passed to the second level. About 10% of that 10% is passed to the third level. Most ecosystems have three levels as there is not enough energy for a fourth level. Except in tropical rainforest they are fourth levels but no where else.


What happens to matter when it is converted in a nuclear reaction?

In a nuclear reaction, matter is converted into energy.


Are ecosystems transformers of matter and energy?

In an ecosystem the reactions going on are chemical reactions, and the total weight of the substances involved remains constant. Matter is only destroyed in nuclear reactions such as the fission of uranium, which does not happen in a normal ecosystem. Energy is transformed though, for example the sun's energy is absorbed by plants making them grow.


What happens when matter is heated What happens to its energy?

When matter is heated, its particles gain kinetic energy, causing them to move faster and vibrate more. This increase in energy leads to a rise in temperature and can result in changes in the physical state of the matter, such as melting or boiling. The energy that is added to the matter during heating is stored within the particles as heat energy.


What system can matter and energy enter and exit?

An open system allows matter and energy to enter and exit, making exchanges with its surroundings. This system is not isolated but interacts with its environment, enabling the transfer of both energy and matter. Examples include living organisms and ecosystems.


What happens when matter cools?

One thing that happens is that the molecules in the matter lose energy and momentum and slow down, therefore the matter becomes more compact.


What is the main difference between how matter and how energy move through ecosystems?

Matter cycles through ecosystems in a closed loop, as it is recycled among living organisms and the environment through processes like decomposition and nutrient uptake. In contrast, energy flows through ecosystems in a one-way direction, typically entering as sunlight, being converted into chemical energy by producers, and then moving up the food chain as consumers utilize it, ultimately dissipating as heat. This distinction underscores the sustainability of matter versus the linear nature of energy transfer.