Glucose is used by the plant to carry out its life processes. The rest of the energy is stored as carbohydrates or lipids, which are used by other organisms as food. It is important to remember that all food chains start with a producer that serves as food for herbivores. Herbivores are then eaten by carnivores or omnivores. These organisms use some of the available energy for life processes, but most of the energy is lost as body heat.
Concepts Explain how energy flows through ecosystems.
The sun is the main source of energy in an ecosystem. Compare and contrast a food chain and a food web. Indicators Classify organisms in an ecosystem as producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores scavengers, or decomposers. Draw a food web to show how food chains are interrelated or connected in an ecosystem. Create an energy pyramid diagram of organisms in a specific ecosystem.