Question

What are the differences between flow of matter and of energy in an ecosystem? Why?

Answer 1

The major difference between flow of matter and of energy is that the flow of matter occurs in a cyclic manner i.e. it is recycled, however, the flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional which means, it is not recycled.

Flow of matter:

The flow of matter follows the following path- 

• Decomposers release nutrients when they break down dead organisms.
• The nutrients are taken up by plants through their roots.
• The nutrients pass to primary consumers when they eat the plants.
• The nutrients pass to higher level consumers when they eat lower level consumers.
• When living things die, the cycle repeats.
• Nutrients are not destroyed into the ecosystem.

Energy Flow :

In case of flow of energy, the energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from photosynthetic organisms to herbivores to omnivores and carnivores and decomposers, less and less energy becomes available to support life. This loss of useable energy occurs because each energy transfer results in the dissipation of some energy into the environment as heat.

Answer 2

Flow of matter	Flow of energy
(i) It involves the circulation and recycling of nutrients in a cyclic manner within the biosphere.	(i) It involves the flow of energy from one trophic level to another in a unidirectional or non-cyclic manner.
(ii) There is no dissipation of matter at any level.	(ii) There is the dissipation of energy at every level.
(iii) Biosphere is the source of nutrients.	(iii) The Sun is the most important source of energy.

Answer 3

Solution:-

The major difference between the flow of matter and of energy is that the flow of matter occurs in a cyclic manner i.e. it is recycled, however, the flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional which means, it is not recycled. The flow of matter follows the following path- ∙ Decomposers release nutrients when they break down dead organisms. ∙ The nutrients are taken up by plants through their roots. ∙ The nutrients pass to primary consumers when they eat the plants. ∙ The nutrients pass to higher-level consumers when they eat lower-level consumers. ∙ When living things die, the cycle repeats. In case of flow of energy, the energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from photosynthetic organisms to herbivores to omnivores and carnivores and decomposers, less and less energy becomes available to support life. This loss of usable energy occurs because each energy transfer results in the dissipation of some energy into the environment as heat.