Question

Complete the diagram below to show how matter and energy are typically transferred throughout an ecosystem.

Answer 1

Here’s a simple completed diagram you can draw or label to show typical transfers of matter and energy in an ecosystem:

Sun (energy input)
↓
Producers (plants; convert light → chemical energy by photosynthesis)
↓
Primary consumers (herbivores)
↓
Secondary / tertiary consumers (carnivores/omnivores)
↓
Decomposers (bacteria, fungi)

Then add:
- An arrow from Decomposers back to Producers labeled “nutrients returned to soil/water” (matter cycles).
- At each arrow between trophic levels, add a small arrow to the Atmosphere labeled “heat lost” or “energy lost as heat” (energy flows one-way and is dissipated).

Example labels you can add: “~10% energy transferred to next level” and “matter (nutrients) recycled by decomposers.”

This shows: energy flows from the Sun through producers to consumers and is lost as heat at each transfer, while matter (nutrients) is recycled by decomposers back to producers.