The primary pathway for the movement of energy through ecosystems is the food chain. Energy enters ecosystems through primary producers, typically plants, which convert solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred to primary consumers, or herbivores, when they feed on plants. Subsequently, secondary and tertiary consumers, or carnivores, acquire energy through predation. Along the way, energy is lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes and heat production. Understanding these pathways is vital for assessing ecosystem productivity and the impacts of human activities on energy flow within ecological systems.