The majority of energy in a food chain is lost as respiratory heat. Whenever an organism takes food, breaks it down, and converts it to energy, heat is a byproduct that contains the energy lost. About 66% of the energy in a food chain is lost due to respiratory heat. No energy is lost to decomposers, rather, it is transferred to them. The decomposers respire, and create heat as well.

The great white shark is at the top of the food pyramid in its ocean ecosystem. Since it is at the top, it receives the least amount of energy from its food because the amount of energy decreases as one moves up the pyramid.

Green algae contains the pigment chlorophyll, which is responsible for photosynthesis. This makes green algae a producer, and the lowest level of the pyramid. As a result, the green algae will represent the largest amount of energy in the ecosystem. The anchovy eats the algae, the tuna eats the anchovy, the seal eats the tuna, and the shark eats the seal. After each level, approximately 90% of the energy of the pervious level is lost. After four transitions (to get to the level of the shark), only 0.01% of the original producer energy has been transferred to the shark!

Autotrophs are the base part of any food pyramid/web/chain. They take inorganic substances and turn them into organic substances that are later consumed and used by heterotrophs for energy. Most autotrophs absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and minerals/nutrients from the soil in order to feed, reproduce, and grow, drawing their resources from the surrounding inorganic environment.

The sun, while crucial to many autotrophs, provides energy for the processes—however, it does not provide carbon, nutrients, or minerals. Human activity may contribute to the autotrophs' activity, but it is not the main source of the necessary resources.

Autotrophs make their own food, then using cellular metabolism, this food is converted to energy. Examples are plants converting sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen (photosynthesis). Then, the plants breakdown glucose, converting this food molecule into the energy molecule ATP via glycolysis, Krebs cycle and electron transport under aerobic conditions, and via fermentation under anaerobic conditions. Heterotrophs, like humans, must ingest organic material (food) in order to meet their energy demands.

The great white shark is at the top of the food pyramid in its ocean ecosystem. Since it is at the top, it receives the least amount of energy from its food because the amount of energy decreases as one moves up the pyramid.

Green algae contains the pigment chlorophyll, which is responsible for photosynthesis. This makes green algae a producer, and the lowest level of the pyramid. As a result, the green algae will represent the largest amount of energy in the ecosystem. The anchovy eats the algae, the tuna eats the anchovy, the seal eats the tuna, and the shark eats the seal. After each level, approximately 90% of the energy of the pervious level is lost. After four transitions (to get to the level of the shark), only 0.01% of the original producer energy has been transferred to the shark!

The majority of energy in a food chain is lost as respiratory heat. Whenever an organism takes food, breaks it down, and converts it to energy, heat is a byproduct that contains the energy lost. About 66% of the energy in a food chain is lost due to respiratory heat. No energy is lost to decomposers, rather, it is transferred to them. The decomposers respire, and create heat as well.

Autotrophs make their own food, then using cellular metabolism, this food is converted to energy. Examples are plants converting sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen (photosynthesis). Then, the plants breakdown glucose, converting this food molecule into the energy molecule ATP via glycolysis, Krebs cycle and electron transport under aerobic conditions, and via fermentation under anaerobic conditions. Heterotrophs, like humans, must ingest organic material (food) in order to meet their energy demands.

Autotrophs are the base part of any food pyramid/web/chain. They take inorganic substances and turn them into organic substances that are later consumed and used by heterotrophs for energy. Most autotrophs absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and minerals/nutrients from the soil in order to feed, reproduce, and grow, drawing their resources from the surrounding inorganic environment.

The sun, while crucial to many autotrophs, provides energy for the processes—however, it does not provide carbon, nutrients, or minerals. Human activity may contribute to the autotrophs' activity, but it is not the main source of the necessary resources.

An omnivore eats both plants and animals. Humans are an example of omnivores.

Herbivores only eat plants. Carnivores only eat animals. Detritivores eat decaying matter.

A producer is an organism that makes its own food from the energy of the sun via photosynthesis. Green algae is a producer; it has chlorophyll pigments and can make glucose via photosynthesis. A frog is a consumer; a worm is a decomposer; a fungus is a saprophyte; a bear is a consumer.