NEET2026BiologyChapterActual
Most ecosystems on Earth rely on a continuous and strictly unidirectional flow of solar energy. Which of the following statements correctly explains the necessity of this continuous energy input in the context of thermodynamic laws?
Options
- AEcosystems bypass the Second Law of Thermodynamics by efficiently recycling dissipated heat energy back into t
- BEcosystems must constantly counteract the universal tendency toward increasing disorder, thereby strictly obey
- CAccording to the First Law of Thermodynamics, energy transfer between trophic levels is completely efficient,
- DThe unidirectional flow ensures that the energy trapped by producers is eventually returned to the sun to main
Correct answer
B. Ecosystems must constantly counteract the universal tendency toward increasing disorder, thereby strictly obey
Step-by-step solution
According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy (disorder) of the universe. Ecosystems are highly ordered systems and must constantly counteract this universal tendency toward increasing disorder. To maintain their complex structures and functions, they require a continuous input of energy, which is primarily provided by the sun. Energy flows unidirectionally through an ecosystem (from producers to consumers) and is eventually dissipated as heat. It canno