Question

Why an ecosystem requires a constant input of energy

Answer 1

The ecosystem requires a constant input of energy because energy cannot be stored. The enrgy always gets converted for supporting life in the ecosystem. Some amount of energy is also lost during this conversion. So if there is not a constant supply of energy, then the ecosystem will ultimately breakdown. In case of humans, the energy is received by consuming food. The energy of the food geets converted to the enrgy that helps a human being to complete his daily chores. So energy is being lost at every step. To regain this energy the humans have to eat food regularly. This way the humans need a constant supply of energy to survive. It is the same in the case of all living things in the ecosystem.