Which statement best describes what ultimately happens to the chemical energy that is NOT converted to new biomass in the process of energy transfer between trophic levels in an ecosystem?
A) It is undigested and winds up in the feces and is not passed on to higher trophic levels.
B) It is eliminated as feces or is dissipated into space as heat, consistent with the second law of thermodynamics.
C) Heat produced by cellular respiration is used by heterotrophs for thermoregulation.
D) It is recycled by decomposers to smaller and smaller forms until it finally breaks down to form soil.
E) It is used by organisms to maintain their life processes through the reactions of cellular respiration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The second law of thermodynamics states that energy is lost as heat when it is transferred or transformed. Therefore, the energy that is not used to build new biomass would eventually dissipate into space as heat or be eliminated as feces, consistent with the second law of thermodynamics.

Which Statement Best Describes What Ultimately Happens to the Chemical