Final answer:
Energy flows from the photosynthesizing tree to the consuming giraffe, while nutrients cycle in the opposite direction from the giraffe back to the tree.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a closed, sunny ecosystem consisting of a giraffe and a tree, the flow of energy and nutrients occur in different directions. The correct answer is c) Energy flows from the tree to the giraffe, while nutrients flow from the giraffe to the tree. This is because the tree, as a producer, harnesses energy from the sun through photosynthesis and converts it into organic compounds. When the giraffe eats the tree's leaves, this energy is transferred to the giraffe, making its way up the food chain. On the other hand, as the giraffe excretes waste and eventually dies and decomposes, nutrients from its body enter the soil and are absorbed by the tree's roots, thus completing the nutrient cycle.