Energy flow

Energy flows through ecological food chains and webs in a process known as energy transfer. Energy is transferred from the sun to plants, which use photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This glucose is then consumed by primary consumers, such as herbivores, who use it to grow and develop. The herbivores are in turn eaten by secondary consumers, such as carnivores, who use the energy to sustain their own growth. This process continues through the food chain until the energy reaches top-level consumers, such as apex predators.

The energy available at each trophic level decreases as you move up the food chain due to the loss of energy at each transfer.

Arrows on a food chain, or food web, represent the flow of energy. The placement of the arrows in a food chain or food web is very important. The arrows always show the direction of the energy as it is transferred from one organism to another. The flow of energy can also be represented within an energy pyramid.