Question

Why is energy flow through an ecosystem dependent upon continual energy transformations?
short paragraph

Answer 1

Energy flow through an ecosystem depends on continual energy transformations because organisms must convert incoming energy (mostly sunlight) into usable chemical energy and then into work, growth, and heat at each trophic step. By the first law of thermodynamics energy is conserved, but by the second law each transformation is inefficient: some energy is lost as heat and becomes less available for biological work. Because energy cannot be recycled within the system in its usable form, a continuous input and series of transformations are required to power metabolism, maintain order, and sustain the food web.