With the help of a flow diagram, describe how energy from the sun flows through various trophic levels.


The energy from sun flows from producers to herbivores to carnivores.


Producers (plants) absorb sun’s energy to make food by photosynthesis. In the presence of water, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll, plants absorb 1% of sun’s energy available to them to make food in form of carbohydrates and release oxygen as a by-product. This food in the form of chemical energy flows through the food chain.


In the next step, Plants are eaten by herbivores and according to 10% energy law only 10% of energy is transferred from plants to herbivores; the rest is lost in transfer and other activities. Herbivores utilize this energy in metabolic activities and release some of the energy in form of heat into the environment.


Further, herbivores are eaten by carnivores. 10% of energy from herbivores gets transferred to carnivores. Carnivores utilize this energy for activities like respiration etc. and release some part of the un-utilized energy into the environment.


The top Carnivores obtain energy by feeding on the flesh of small carnivores and the transfer of energy keeps on happening.


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