Describe how matter is conserved as it cycles through ecosystems.

Unlike energy, matter is recycled in ecosystems. Decomposers release nutrients when they break down dead organisms. The nutrients are taken up by plants through their roots.

Explanation:

The cycling of matter and the flow of energy within ecosystems occur through interactions among different organisms and between organisms and the physical environment. ... Energy from light is needed for plants because the chemical reaction that produces plant matter from air and water requires an energy input to occur.

it provides an alternative energy pathway for the reaction to proceed.

a catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction but is not consumed during the course of the reaction.

catalysts increase the rate of reaction without being used up. they do this by lowering the activation energy needed. with a catalyst, more collisions result in a reaction, so the rate of reaction increases. different reactions need different catalysts.

a catalyst works by providing an alternative reaction pathway to the reaction product. the rate of the reaction is increased as this alternative route has a lower activation energy than the reaction route not mediated by the catalyst.