Question

question 9 (10 points)
within food chains energy is ______.

a always being lost to the environment as heat
b always increasing
c is continually being converted into matter
d doesnt change in amount and is recycled

Explanation:

In a food chain, energy transfer occurs with each trophic level. As organisms perform metabolic activities (like respiration), energy is released as heat into the environment. Option b is wrong because energy decreases at each trophic level (only about 10% is passed on). Option c is incorrect as energy isn't converted into matter in the context of energy flow in food chains (matter cycles, energy flows). Option d is wrong because energy isn't recycled; it flows in one direction and is lost as heat, while matter is recycled. So the correct option is a.

Answer:

a. always being lost to the environment as heat