Which of the following statements about ecosystems is false?
Answer Details
The statement that is false is "All the energy entering the ecosystem is passed on to decomposers."
Energy flows through an ecosystem in a one-way stream, from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs, then to heterotrophs, and eventually to decomposers. However, not all of the energy that enters an ecosystem is passed on to the next trophic level. Some of the energy is lost as heat during metabolic processes, and some is used for growth and reproduction. As a result, energy transfer from one trophic level to the other is not 100% efficient.
The primary producers, such as plants and algae, are the organisms that capture energy from the sun or inorganic compounds and convert it into organic compounds through photosynthesis. They provide the energy base for herbivores and carnivores, which are the primary and secondary consumers, respectively.
Finally, decomposers break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. They play a critical role in nutrient cycling, but not all of the energy entering the ecosystem is passed on to them.
Therefore, the statement that "All the energy entering the ecosystem is passed on to decomposers" is false.