Question

Indicate the flow of energy in a food chain operating in an ecosystem. Why is it uni-directional? Give reason.

Answer 1

1. The food chain shows a unidirectional flow of energy, whereby energy from the sun is transferred to producers, then to primary consumers, followed by secondary and tertiary consumers, with energy released as heat at each stage.
2. This lost energy never returns to its previous level because the primary source of energy is the sun, and once energy is utilized by an organism, it cannot be recycled back to the sun for utilization.