Question

Nearly all of the energy in Earth's ecosystems comes from the Sun. Which statement about the movement of that energy through the biogeochemical carbon cycle is correct? A. All the Sun's energy collected by plants is transferred through each step of the cycle. B. Decomposers gain energy by breaking carbon-carbon bonds in other organisms. C. Producers gain heat energy by eating other organisms made of carbon. D. Energy is lost as heat only during the abiotic steps of the carbon cycle.

Answer 1

Option B, Decomposers gain energy by breaking carbon-carbon bonds in other organisms.

Step-by-step explanation:

A producer (plant/organism containing chlorophyll) is capable to take the energy from sun and convert into usable form such as food. This food is consumed by consumers. Thus in this way producers transfers energy from one level to other but the energy transferred from one level to other is just the 10% of the energy at its preceding level. Also a producer gains energy from its self made food. Hence, both option A and C is incorrect.

Option D is also incorrect as biotic steps such as degradation of organic waste (containing carbon) by bacteria also causes loss of energy as heat.

Thus, only option B is correct as decomposers are heterotrophic and hence they obtain energy by feeding on dead organic matter.

Answer 2

Answer;

B. Decomposers gain energy by breaking carbon-carbon bonds in other organisms.

Explanation;

• Plants capture the sun's energy and use it to synthesize complex, energy-rich molecules through the process of photosynthesis from molecules of carbon dioxide and water.
• Consumers consume or feed on the producers and derive energy from breaking down the producers’ molecules, and use them to synthesize their own structures.
• Decomposers obtain the energy they need to live from chemical bonds of the dead and waste-matter.