What is the best explanation for what happens to the food's mass and energy when it is consumed by the pygmy shrew?

Question

A.
The mass is mostly excreted as waste. The energy is burned up and destroyed by the pygmy shrew's high rate of cellular respiration.

B.
The mass is all used for creating new mass in growth. The energy is stored, used in cellular respiration, or lost to the environment as heat.

C.
The mass is used for growth, stored, or excreted as waste. The energy is stored, used in cellular respiration, and lost to the environment as heat.

D.
The mass is used for growth, stored, or excreted as waste. The energy is burned up and destroyed by the shrew's high rate of cellular respiration.

Answer 1

The best explanation for what happens to the food's mass and energy when it is consumed by the pygmy shrew is:

C. The mass is used for growth, stored, or excreted as waste. The energy is stored, used in cellular respiration, and lost to the environment as heat.

This option accurately describes the processes of mass and energy transformation in biological organisms. The mass of the food contributes to growth, can be stored in various forms, or may be excreted as waste. The energy from the food is utilized for metabolic processes, stored for later use, and some of it is always lost as heat due to metabolic activities.