Final answer:
Ecosystems do not run out of materials because matter is recycled within the ecosystem. Organisms obtain materials such as food and oxygen from the environment and reuse them. This prevents the ecosphere from running out of essential resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ecosystems do not run out of materials because they recycle matter. Unlike energy, which needs constant inputs, matter such as water, carbon, and nitrogen are used over and over again within the ecosystem. Organisms in the ecosystem play a crucial role in recycling materials such as food and oxygen. They obtain these materials from the environment and reuse them, preventing the ecosphere from running out of essential resources.