What happens to most of the energy as it moves throughout a food web?

• A. It is stored indefinitely in the bodies of organisms.
• B. It is completely transferred to the next trophic level.
• C. It is lost as heat due to metabolic processes.
• D. It is converted into matter and recycled without loss.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of energy flow in a food web: Energy originates from the sun and is captured by producers (plants, algae) through photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred through various trophic levels in the food web.
2. Recognize that energy transfer between trophic levels is not 100% efficient. Only a small portion of energy is passed on to the next level, typically around 10%, while the rest is lost.
3. Learn why energy is lost: Most of the energy is lost as heat due to metabolic processes such as respiration, movement, and maintaining body temperature. This is a fundamental principle of thermodynamics in biological systems.
4. Clarify that energy is not stored indefinitely in organisms. While some energy is stored temporarily in the form of biomass, it is eventually used or decomposed, contributing to the energy loss in the system.
5. Understand that energy is not converted into matter and recycled without loss. Matter (like nutrients) can be recycled in ecosystems, but energy flow is unidirectional and involves loss at each step due to heat dissipation.