Flow of Energy in an Ecosystem

✓ The main source of energy for an Ecosystem is the sun.
✓ Green Plants Convert Solar energy to chemical energy during the process of photosynthesis.
✓ This chemical energy is passed from the producers in food to various trophic levels.
✓ The primary consumers obtain their energy by feeding on the producers.
✓ The secondary consumers obtain their energy by feeding on the primary consumers. Decomposers obtain their energy by feeding on the dead bodies of plants and animals.
✓ Some of the energy is lost as heat as it is passed from one trophic level to the other.
✓ Some of the energy is lost in undigested food (faces) and excretory Products.
✓ Only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the other.
✓ The energy flows in only one direction and the amount of energy reduces as it flows through the various trophic levels.

Sun → Green plants → Herbivores → Carnivores → Decomposers