Energy transfer is a fundamental process that sustains life in ecosystems. It begins with the sun, which provides energy to plants through photosynthesis. These plants are then consumed by herbivores, which are in turn eaten by carnivores, transferring energy up the food chain.
Decomposers, like fungi and bacteria, also play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter, returning nutrients and energy back into the environment. Energy transfer is governed by the laws of thermodynamics, where energy is passed from one organism to another, but some energy is always lost as heat. Understanding how energy flows in ecosystems is essential for studying ecology and conservation.