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The law of conservation of energy states that energy can't be created or destroyed, only transformed or transferred. Accordingly, plants transfer energy to animals, and animals transfer energy back to plants in a never-ending cycle that's vital to life on earth.
Primary Energy Source
The driving force behind all life on earth is the sun. Solar energy is first collected by specialized cells in plants called chloroplasts, where it is changed into simple sugars and oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.
Plant Function
Plants are known as producers, meaning that they produce both their own food and food for animals. When a plant is eaten by an animal, its simple sugars--which are a form of stored energy--are transferred into the animal's body.
Animal Metabolism
Animals metabolize sugars from plants in special cells called mitochondria. The mitochondria produce energy in the form of molecules called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). These molecules power everything the animal does.
Respiration
Aside from sugars, plants transfer oxygen to animals, which they need to metabolize food. In turn, animals transfer carbon dioxide to plants, which they need to metabolize sunlight.
Decomposition
When animals die, their decomposing bodies transfer energy to microorganisms and fungi, which supplies vital nutrients to plants.
Source:
Georgia State University: Energy Cycle from Plants to Animals
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