Question

Energy enters an ecosystem primarily as ______ and leaves an ecosystem primarily as ______.

Answer 1

Energy enters an ecosystem primarily as light and leaves an ecosystem primarily as heat.

Explanation:

Sunlight is captured by plants during photosynthesis to produce food energy, which flows through the food chain. At each trophic level, energy is used for metabolic activities, and a significant portion is lost to the environment as heat. This heat energy dissipates and does not return to the ecosystem, making energy flow a one-way process.