Flow of matter | Flow of energy |
(i) It involves the circulation and recycling of nutrients in a cyclic manner within the biosphere. | (i) It involves the flow of energy from one trophic level to another in a unidirectional or non-cyclic manner. |
(ii) There is no dissipation of matter at any level. | (ii) There is the dissipation of energy at every level. |
(iii) Biosphere is the source of nutrients. | (iii) The Sun is the most important source of energy. |