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How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
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ecosystem
Tundra and lakes during summer in the Yamal Peninsula of Siberia, Russia. Tundra ecosystems are found primarily in the Low Arctic region of North America and Eurasia. Most regions—with the exception of rock outcrops, dry ridge tops, and river gravel bars—are fully vegetated, primarily by dwarf shrubs, lichens, and mosses.
Energy flows through an ecosystem via trophic levels, forming a food chain. At the base are producers, typically plants, which harness solar energy through photosynthesis. These producers are consumed by herbivores (primary consumers), which in turn are eaten by carnivores (secondary consumers), and so on. A significant amount of energy, often 80-90 percent, is lost as heat at each transfer between trophic levels due to metabolic processes. This means less energy is available at higher trophic levels. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the producers.123