Question

"Matter can be recycled and used again by a community of organisms but energy cannot." Please explain this statement.

Answer 1

Plants convert the sun's energy into their leaves, roots, stems, flowers and fruit through photosynthesis. Organisms eat the plants, and through the process of respiration use the stored energy to conduct their everyday activities. Additionally, some energy is lost as heat. In all, the organism uses about 90 percent of the stored plant's energy. After several steps in the food chain, no energy is left to recycle.