Question:
How does the way that matter flows throughout an ecosystem differ from the way that energy flows through an ecosystem?
Answer:
Matter is cycled, as in recycled, while energy flows in a one-way direction.
Matter is constantly being reused. an animal dies, it becomes the soil, which produces vegetation, which is eaten by an animal, and then the process loops. Energy, on the other hand, comes from the sun, flows from one organism to the next, and when it reaches the final organism, it simply leaves.
Cycle of Carbon
Carbon is arguably the most important molecule found in the biosphere. Carbon, like all other matter on Earth, is cycled throughout the ecosystem. CO2 is produced when you burn something, exhale, or volcanic activity occurs. In the Taiga, coal can be found, which is largely composed by carbon. When an animal dies, the carbon within it will return to the soil, where it will be tightly compacted into coal. Coal is burnt, which releases CO2 into the atmosphere. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants in the Taiga, such as the White Spruce, will take in the CO2. Next, an animal, like the Moose, will eat the White Spruce, taking in some of the CO2. This CO2 is then expelled from the Moose through exhaling. The CO2 from the Moose's breath is then released into the atmosphere. Sometimes, photosynthetic algae in a nearby water source will take in the CO2. The CO2 taken in by said algae is then passed on to an organism which eats the algae, such as the Northern Pike, found in the Taiga. When this Northern Pike dies, its contents of CO2 will return to the soil, and the whole process is repeated.