Asked by Steven Digges on Sep 23, 2024
Verified
What happens to most of the energy input in a food chain?
A) It is degraded to low-quality heat.
B) It is converted to carbon dioxide.
C) It is converted to biomass.
D) It is recycled as it reaches the chain's end.
Food Chain
A series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food, representing the flow of energy and nutrients in an ecosystem.
Low-Quality Heat
Refers to thermal energy that is at a temperature unsuitable or too low to be used for work or energy production efficiently.
- Comprehend the circulation and reuse of energy in an ecosystem.
Verified Answer
DF
Draven Foshee1 day ago
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
Most of the energy input in a food chain is converted to low-quality heat, which cannot be used to sustain life processes. This is in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics that states that energy is lost as it is transferred from one organism to another. Only a small fraction of the energy is converted to biomass, while the rest is lost as heat.
Learning Objectives
- Comprehend the circulation and reuse of energy in an ecosystem.