Question

compare the flow of the energy with the flow of the nutrients in a closed, sunny ecosystem consisting of giraffe and a tree?

Short answer

The sun's energy is used by plants to prepare their food through photosynthesis, which is then consumed by the giraffe when it eats the tree's leaves. The plants use the carbon dioxide created by the giraffe during photosynthesis, and the giraffe uses the oxygen released during the same process for respiration.

Step-by-step solution

step-1: Definition

Green plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.

step-2: Introduction

The giraffe is a heterotrophic organism, while the tree is autotrophic. With the help of sunshine, the tree will create its own food, and the giraffe will eat the tree's leaves.

Step-3: Explanation

The tree will use photosynthesis to make its own food, which will be stored in the leaves and shoots of the stem. The plants will harvest the sun's energy, which will be passed on to the giraffe when it eats the tree's leaves.

The plant will release oxygen, which the giraffe will inhale before exhaling carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide will be fixed to make glucose (food) and oxygen will be recycled via the Calvin cycle. As long as both the tree and the giraffe exist, this gas exchange cycle will continue. The tree will utilise the giraffe excreta as manure to get certain vital minerals.