Energy is primarily transferred through an ecosystem via food chains and food webs. Producers, such as plants, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, which is then consumed by herbivores. These herbivores are preyed upon by carnivores, thus transferring energy from one trophic level to the next. Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. This flow of energy is typically represented in a pyramid format, indicating the diminishing energy available at higher trophic levels.