non-cyclic energy flow in an ecosystem

Question 1

how does energy flow in an ecosystem

Answer 1

1. in an ecosystem, the principal source of energy is the sun
2. during photosynthesis, energy from the sun is absorbed by chlorophyll in producers and transferred to stores of energy in glucose
3. energy in producers is passed by trophic levels, decreasing with each tropic level as only 10% of the energy is passed to the next level
4. the remaining energy is largely released as heat via respiration and cannot be recycled in the ecosystem
5. chemical energy is released through decomposition and is taken in for decomposer’s needs

Question 2

how are nutrients recycled in an ecosystem

Answer 2

carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and water are released back into the soil when organisms die and decompose. decomposers break down these organisms so that nutrients can be returned back to the physical environment to be reused by green plants