Multiple Choice
In an ecosystem, energy flows directly from which of the following to which of the following?
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52. Ecosystems
Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
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In the context of energy flow through ecosystems, what happens to energy as it moves from primary producers to higher trophic levels?
A
Energy is recycled indefinitely within the ecosystem because decomposers convert it back into usable energy for producers.
B
All energy is conserved and transferred with nearly 100% efficiency from one trophic level to the next.
C
Most energy is lost as heat at each trophic transfer due to metabolism, so less energy is available at higher trophic levels.
D
Energy increases at each successive trophic level because organisms concentrate energy as biomass accumulates.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of energy flow in ecosystems, which describes how energy moves from one trophic level to another, starting with primary producers (like plants) and moving up to herbivores, carnivores, and so on.
Recognize that energy transfer between trophic levels is not 100% efficient; a significant portion of energy is lost at each step, primarily as heat due to metabolic processes such as respiration.
Recall the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that energy transformations increase entropy, meaning some energy is always lost as unusable heat during energy transfer.
Note that decomposers break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients, but they do not recycle energy back into usable forms for producers; energy must be continually supplied by the sun.
Conclude that because of energy loss at each trophic level, less energy is available to organisms at higher trophic levels, which explains why energy decreases as it moves up the food chain.
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