Question

The flow of energy in an ecosystem starts with
and then follows the food chain and ends with the
consumer.

Answer 1

The flow of energy in an ecosystem starts with **producers**, primarily plants and phytoplankton, which convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. The energy then follows the food chain through various levels of consumers: **primary consumers** (herbivores), **secondary consumers** (carnivores that eat herbivores), and so on, ultimately ending with the **top consumers** or **apex predators** in the ecosystem. Additionally, decomposers play a crucial role in recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.