The flow of energy among living organisms is best characterized as a?

Question

a. circle.

b. ladder.

c. lattice.

d. web.

e. funnel.

Answer 1

It's totally NOT a ladder. Energy is not a one way flow. It's a web. If you look at microorganisms in the ocean, for example, energy can cycle between animals on different "levels" via viruses. Viruses can consume organisms that obtain energy from the metabolic processes of other organisms; these consumed organisms become dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which goes back down to the organisms whose metabolic processes energized the now consumed organisms.
Also, consider fish. Some die, and their bodies sink to the bottom of the ocean. There, decomposing microorganisms break down the body and provide energy not only for symbionts, but also for more complex organisms. Such a symbiotic relationship exists between sulfate reducers and sulfide oxidizers, for example.
WEB is the correct answer.

Answer 2

It's more like a LADDER than any of the rest of these choices. Energy goes up the trophic levels in the ecosystem, but it's a one-way trip. More energy comes from the sun to the producers to keep starting the food chains.

So energy passes from producers to primary consumers to secondary consumers to tertiary consumers, and so on.

Answer 3

I would say a lattice, since we're all connected. They say there's a large grid all around our earth, and I would consider a grid to be a lattice.

Answer 4

circle.....since the energy flows from 1 living organism to the other..n this way...it form a circle....