* Sunlight as the Primary Energy Source: The sun is the ultimate source of energy for almost all life on Earth. It provides the energy for photosynthesis, a process carried out by plants, algae, and some bacteria.
* Producers: These organisms, like plants, convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in the bonds of organic molecules (sugars). They are called producers because they create their own food.
* Consumers: Animals and other organisms that can't produce their own food eat producers or other consumers. This way, they obtain the chemical energy stored within the producers' bodies.
* Decomposers: Organisms like bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms and waste products, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem and making those nutrients available for producers.
In essence, the flow of energy through an ecosystem begins with the sun, is captured by producers, and then passes through consumers, eventually being returned to the environment through decomposition.
