The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created, yet matter is sometimes gained or lost to an ecosystem. What is the reason for this seeming contradiction?

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Ecosystem restoration is the process of helping an ecosystem recover after it has been damaged, destroyed, or degraded. Ecosystems are dynamic communities of plants, animals, and microorganisms that interact with their physical environment as a functional unit.

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The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created, yet matter is sometimes gained or lost to an ecosystem. What is the reason for this seeming contradiction?