What explains the difference between the movement of matter and energy in ecosystems?

Question

Select all that apply.

Responses

Matter, flows from producers to consumers and then is lost to the non-living parts of the ecosystem.
Matter, flows from producers to consumers and then is lost to the non-living parts of the ecosystem.

Matter like carbon, is not lost, it cycles between living and nonliving parts of ecosystems
Matter like carbon, is not lost, it cycles between living and nonliving parts of ecosystems

Energy cycles within ecosystems, as it travels from producers to consumers and then back to producers again.
Energy cycles within ecosystems, as it travels from producers to consumers and then back to producers again.

Energy flows into ecosystems, through organisms, and eventually is lost as heat.

Answer 1

The correct responses that explain the difference between the movement of matter and energy in ecosystems are:

1. Matter like carbon, is not lost, it cycles between living and nonliving parts of ecosystems.
2. Energy flows into ecosystems, through organisms, and eventually is lost as heat.

These responses highlight the fundamental difference between matter, which cycles within ecosystems, and energy, which flows through ecosystems and is eventually dissipated as heat.