For example, plants get energy from the sun and use it to make sugar. Animals eat the plants, other animals eat those animals, animals die, etc., and eventually, all of the energy has been lost as heat. It has a definite entrance and exit.
Nutrients on the other hand, such as essential minerals, already exist in the ecosystem, in the soil, the organisms, the air, wherever. Plants absorb nutrients, animals ingest them, etc., but then when the organism dies and is decomposed, the nutrients stay behind and are simply used again. It never goes anywhere.
Source(s):
For example, plants get energy from the sun and use it to make sugar. Animals eat the plants, other animals eat those animals, animals die, etc., and eventually, all of the energy has been lost as heat. It has a definite entrance and exit. Nutrients on the other hand, such as essential minerals, already exist in the ecosystem, in the soil, the organisms, the air, wherever. Plants absorb nutrients, animals ingest them, etc., but then when the organism dies and is decomposed, the nutrients stay behind and are simply used again. It never goes anywhere.Source(s):
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