How does energy flow through ecosystems?

Energy flows through ecosystems via the food chain, starting from the sun and moving through producers to consumers.

In an ecosystem, the primary source of energy is the sun. Plants, also known as producers, capture solar energy through the process of photosynthesis. They convert this energy into chemical energy stored in their tissues. This energy is then passed on to herbivores, or primary consumers, when they eat the plants. For example, a rabbit eating grass is transferring the energy stored in the grass into its own body.

Next, secondary consumers, such as carnivores, eat the herbivores. For instance, a fox eating a rabbit transfers the energy stored in the rabbit into the fox. This process continues up the food chain to tertiary consumers, which are often top predators like eagles or sharks. Each step in this chain is known as a trophic level.

However, not all the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. In fact, only about 10% of the energy is passed on, while the rest is lost as heat, used for metabolic processes, or left in parts of the organism that are not eaten. This is known as the 10% rule. Because of this energy loss, there are usually fewer organisms at each successive trophic level.

Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in the energy flow by breaking down dead organisms and waste products. This process releases nutrients back into the soil, which plants can then use to grow, thus continuing the cycle of energy flow in the ecosystem.

Understanding how energy flows through ecosystems helps us appreciate the delicate balance of nature and the importance of each organism within it.