Question

In 3–4 sentences, compare and contrast the flow of matter and energy for land-based ecosystems and marine ecosystems. How and why are they similar, and how and why are they different? Make it simple, coherent, and intended for 9th grade.

Answer 1

In both land-based and marine ecosystems, energy flows through food chains as organisms eat each other, starting with producers like plants and algae that convert sunlight into energy. However, matter in these ecosystems behaves differently: in land ecosystems, nutrients cycle through the soil and organisms, while in marine ecosystems, nutrients often come from the ocean floor and are more affected by water currents. They are similar because both ecosystems rely on the sun as the primary energy source and have various levels of consumers. They differ mainly in how nutrients are sourced and cycled, with land relying more on soil and marine ecosystems relying on water movements.