Cycles of Matter
How Does The Way That Matter Flows Throughout an Ecosystem Differ From the Way That Energy Flows Through an Ecosystem? |
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Energy passes through an ecosystem in a one way fashion from trophic level to trophic level and dissipates into the environment as heat along the way. Matter on the other hand doesn't come in a steady supply and is recycled to be used over and over again.
What's going on in the carbon cycle?First carbon is used by plants to make their food through photosynthesis. Then the plant is eaten by a herbivore and eventually the herbivore is eaten by a carnivore transferring the carbon from the herbivore to the carnivore. After the carnivore dies the organism is broken down by a decomposer and the carbon is transferred to the decomposer. Sometimes parts of a dead organism are left untouched and after a while these parts will decompose into the Earth and become a fossil fuel. When any type of combustion occurs, this involves the burning of fossil fuels, forests, or any other type of combustion, the carbon will be released back into the atmosphere for plants to take in for photosynthesis. Anything consumed or produced has to go through cellular respiration to make energy out of the food.
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Carbon Cycle |