How does the way matter cycles through an ecosystem differ from the way at energy flows?

Not similar to matter, flow of energy has a one way flow through living things. On the other hand, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.  Living things (ecosystems) need nonliving matter as well as energy.  Matter is used to build bodies. It's also needed to carry out the processes of life.  Any nonliving matter that living things need is called a nutrient. Carbon and nitrogen are examples of nutrients.  Unlike energy, matter is recycled in ecosystems.

step 1 ammonium can be absorbed by plants, but some is converted into nitrates which are better for plants to absorb. this is called nitrification. 2. step 2 the deer eats the plants and uses the nitrogen-containing proteins for cell growth. 3. step 3 bacteria in the soil conduct nitrogen fixation to convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonium. 4. step 4 some of the nitrates are absorbed back into plants, but denitrification breaks down the nitrates into nitrogen gas released back into the atmosphere. 5. step 5 nitrogen is found in the urine, which gets broken down into ammonium through the process of ammonification. 6. step 6 plants absorb the ammonium and begin assimilation, the process to add the nitrogen to protein.