Question

The fate of energy in the biosphere is explained by

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the first law which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed. In the biosphere, energy is constantly being converted from one form to another as it flows through the ecosystem.

Plants and other autotrophic organisms capture solar energy through photosynthesis and convert it into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This energy is then transferred to heterotrophic organisms when they consume plants or other animals. Throughout this process, some energy is lost as heat through respiration and other metabolic processes.

Ultimately, the fate of energy in the biosphere is to be recycled and reused by different organisms in the ecosystem. Energy is constantly being cycled through the food chain, with some being stored in biomass and eventually decomposed back into the environment. This continual flow of energy is essential for sustaining life in the biosphere.