Question

How are matter and energy are conserved in a food web (Explained in simple terms please)

Answer 1

Answer:

Both the matter and energy are conserved in a  food chain.

Explanation:

There should be no creation of energy and mass from nothingness and no destruction of mass and energy in a system where mass and energy is conserved. In a food chain and food web the law of conservation of mass and energy clearly remains valid.

Energy flow in a food chain follows the ten percent law where ten percentage of the energy at a trophic level is transfered to the next trophic level.  When organisms at  a trophic level die the remains are converted into organic matter by the action of detrivores.  

Thus mass doesn’t get lost anywhere and remains constant. Same is the case of energy which is transferred to the next trophic level and to the environment in various forms  which keeps the total energy in a food chain or web constant.