Thus inorganic nutrients are recycled, energy is not. Photosynthesis reverses this reaction, and water and carbon dioxide are combined to form carbohydrates. Less then one per cent 7. 0.02 to 0.03 per cent 8. This means that little energy is lost between trophic levels, since there are fewer trophic levels present.
Monocultures are fields with only one crop.
This is simplest for planting, weeding, and harvesting, but it also packs many similar plants into a small area, creating a situation ideal for disease and insect pests. In natural ecosystems, plants of one species are often scattered. Insects, which often specialize on feeding on a particular plant species, have a hard time finding the scattered plants. Without food, the insect populations are kept in check. In a field of corn however, even the most inept insect can find a new host plant with a jump in any direction.