Energy is passed from one organism to another primarily through food chains and food webs. In nature, energy transfer begins with producers, such as plants, which convert sunlight into chemical energy through a process called photosynthesis. These producers form the base of the food chain.
When herbivores eat the plants, they obtain the energy stored in the plant tissue. This energy is then used to fuel their own biological processes, such as growth, reproduction, and movement. When carnivores eat herbivores, they also gain energy, which is derived from the energy the herbivores absorbed from the plants.
During these transfers, however, not all of the energy is passed on; some energy is lost as heat or used up in metabolic processes. This is why energy transfer is often depicted as a pyramid, with more energy available at the producer level and less available at higher trophic levels.
Overall, energy transfer through consuming and being consumed is foundational for ecosystem functioning and illustrates the interconnectedness of life.