In three as short as possible sentences, compare and contrast the flow of matter and energy in each trophic level for land-based ecosystems and marine ecosystems. How and why are they similar, and how and why are they different?

Answer 1

In both land-based and marine ecosystems, matter and energy flow from producers to primary consumers (herbivores) to secondary consumers (carnivores) to tertiary consumers (top predators). However, in marine ecosystems, the flow of matter and energy is generally more efficient due to the abundance and diversity of producers and larger population sizes of marine organisms. Additionally, in land-based ecosystems, the flow of matter and energy tends to be more complex and influenced by factors such as terrestrial vegetation and soil nutrients.