Environmental Science
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Quick fact
Only about 10% of the energy from one level in a food chain is passed to the next.
Why this is interesting
Did you know that the energy in your food actually started as sunlight? It travels through nature in a way that supports all living things.
Read the full explanation
Understanding Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Energy flows in ecosystems like water through a river. Plants use sunlight to make their own food, which then gets eaten by animals and decomposed back into the soil. This movement of energy keeps life going.
A deeper explanation
Energy flow in ecosystems begins with producers, such as plants, using sunlight through photosynthesis. Consumers, like animals, eat these producers or other consumers to gain energy. Decomposers break down dead material, recycling nutrients and releasing stored energy back into the system. This unidirectional transfer ensures life continues but also highlights the fragility of ecological balance.