In a healthy ecosystem, how does energy flow from the Sun to plants and then to animals?

• A. Energy from the Sun is stored in the soil and absorbed by both plants and animals.
• B. Animals absorb solar energy directly and then pass it to plants when they die.
• C. Plants obtain energy from animals, which first capture energy from the Sun.
• D. Energy from the Sun is captured by plants through photosynthesis, then transferred to animals when they consume the plants.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of energy flow in an ecosystem. Energy originates from the Sun and is the primary source of energy for all living organisms. Plants, as primary producers, play a crucial role in capturing this energy.
2. Step 2: Learn about photosynthesis. Plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water (H₂O) to produce glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂). This process stores solar energy in chemical bonds of glucose molecules. The chemical equation for photosynthesis is: $6_{}\mathrm{CO}{2}_{}+6_{}H{2}_{}O\to C_{}{6}_{}{H}_{}{\mathrm{12}}_{}{O}_{}{6}_{}+6_{}O{2}_{}$
3. Step 3: Recognize the role of animals in energy transfer. Animals, as consumers, obtain energy by eating plants (herbivores) or other animals (carnivores). When animals consume plants, they break down the stored glucose through cellular respiration to release energy for their biological processes.
4. Step 4: Understand cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is the process by which glucose is broken down in the presence of oxygen to produce energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water. The chemical equation for cellular respiration is: $C_{}{6}_{}{H}_{}{\mathrm{12}}_{}{O}_{}{6}_{}+6_{}O{2}_{}\to 6_{}\mathrm{CO}{2}_{}+6_{}H{2}_{}O+\mathrm{ATP}$
5. Step 5: Summarize the energy flow. Energy flows from the Sun to plants through photosynthesis, where it is stored in glucose. Animals then consume plants, transferring the stored energy to themselves through cellular respiration. This energy is used for growth, reproduction, and other biological functions.