How do animals get energy in ecosystems?

How do animals get energy in ecosystems?

• A. Breathing
• B. Eating
• C. Sleeping
• D. Growing

Answer: (B)

Energy in ecosystems comes from the food organisms eat. Plants capture sunlight and store it as chemical energy in their tissues. Animals gain energy by eating plants or by eating other animals, then their bodies break down that food to power activities like moving, growing, and staying warm. Breathing helps these processes by providing the oxygen needed to release energy from food, but it doesn’t provide energy itself. Sleeping or growing describe what organisms do with energy, not where it comes from.

Energy in ecosystems comes from the food organisms eat. Plants capture sunlight and store it as chemical energy in their tissues. Animals gain energy by eating plants or by eating other animals, then their bodies break down that food to power activities like moving, growing, and staying warm. Breathing helps these processes by providing the oxygen needed to release energy from food, but it doesn’t provide energy itself. Sleeping or growing describe what organisms do with energy, not where it comes from.