Question

Some organisms obtain energy and nutrients from plants in an ecosystem. These organisms have energy stored in their bodies. What happens to the energy in the ecosystem when the organisms die?

Answer 1

When organisms die, the energy stored in their bodies is released back into the ecosystem by decomposers, thus ensuring the continuation of the nutrient cycle and the flow of energy through photosynthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

What Happens to Energy When Organisms Die?

When organisms that obtain energy from plants die, they become part of the ecosystem's nutrient cycle. The energy stored in their bodies is released by decomposers like bacteria and fungi. These decomposers break down the dead organisms, releasing nutrients and energy back into the soil, which can then be used by plants to perform photosynthesis. Through photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, thereby restarting the flow of energy through the ecosystem. As such, the death of organisms is a critical component of energy transfer in an ecosystem, ensuring that energy is available to sustain other life forms.

Food webs illustrate the directional flow of energy through an ecosystem. Energy acquired via photosynthesis at the producer level passes through herbivores and carnivores, with each transfer being less efficient than the last. Much of the energy is converted to heat at each level. When predators or herbivores die, they become a source of energy for decomposers, which close the loop of the energy cycle, making energy and nutrients available to producers once again.

Answer 2

When the organisms die their energy is decomposed by decomposers. This energy is returned to soil in the form of nutrients. The nutrients provide energy to plants in the soil.