Answer:
In an ecosystem, energy is not destroyed as it flows through the different organisms. Instead, it undergoes transformations. This is known as the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another.
Here's a step-by-step explanation of how energy flows through an ecosystem:
1. Producers, such as plants, capture energy from the sun through photosynthesis. They convert sunlight into chemical energy in the form of glucose.
2. Herbivores, such as rabbits, consume plants to obtain the energy stored in the glucose. The energy is transferred from the plants to the herbivores.
3. Carnivores, such as lions, then consume the herbivores, obtaining energy from the food they eat. The energy is transferred from the herbivores to the carnivores.
4. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down the remains of dead organisms and waste material, releasing energy in the process.
Throughout these steps, energy is constantly being transferred from one organism to another. However, some energy is lost as heat during these transfers. This loss of energy as heat is known as the second law of thermodynamics.
Although energy is not destroyed, the amount of available energy decreases as it moves through an ecosystem. This is because each transfer of energy is not 100% efficient, and some energy is lost at each step. As a result, there is less energy available to the organisms at higher trophic levels in the food chain.
Overall, while energy is not destroyed, it does undergo transformations and is gradually lost as heat as it flows through an ecosystem.
Step-by-step explanation: