Skip to main content

Biogeochemical Cycling Applies to Matter, Not Energy

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

A biogeochemical cycle moves matter, such as carbon atoms, repeatedly between organisms and environment, per Bio 0612 — no cycle returns dissipated energy.

Show

An exhaled carbon atom can be re-fixed and eaten again; the light energy that powered fixation cannot be recovered.

Watch for

"Ecosystems recycle their energy," per Bio 3653, mistakes matter cycling for a process, per Bio 0612, energy never undergoes.