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How does energy get from the Sun to a second-level consumer?

Energy is transferred through an ecosystem as organisms eat and are in turn eaten by other organisms.


The original energy source in most ecosystems is the energy of the sun, which is captured by primary consumers, or autotrophs. These are green plants and algae capable of carrying out photosynthesis. During this chemical reaction, light energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of glucose. Other organisms called primary consumers or herbivores, will eat the producers. Secondary consumers, which are carnivores, eat the primary consumers and obtain energy. Therefore, they indirectly get energy from the sun when they consume their prey.


As the trophic levels increase from producer, to primary consumer, to secondary consumer, and so on, the amount of energy decreases at each level. If 100% of available energy is at the producer level, the primary consumers will get 10% of that energy when they consume that producer, and secondary consumers will get 1%. This loss of energy is due to the fact that much of the energy is converted to heat and radiates into the environment. 


I have included a link to the pyramid of energy to help you better visualize the concept.

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