Question

energy flow
matter versus energy in ecosystems
below is an image of a food chain that shows energy and matter movement in an ecosystem. the arrows show the flow of energy through the ecosystem
which statement best describes the movement of
matter and energy in an ecosystem?
energy flows both ways in an ecosystem while matter only flows one way.
energy and matter both flow in a one - way pathway through an ecosystem.
matter gets recycled in an ecosystem while energy flows in a one - way pathway through an ecosystem.

Explanation:

In ecosystems, energy enters as sunlight, moves up trophic levels (with most lost as heat at each step) and cannot be recycled, so it flows one-way. Matter (like carbon, nitrogen) is continuously cycled between organisms and the environment via processes like decomposition, as shown by the arrows pointing back to decomposers in the diagram.

Answer:

Matter gets recycled in an ecosystem while energy flows in a one-way pathway through an ecosystem.