Final answer:
The non-linear process of energy flow in ecosystems is called a food web, which represents multiple paths of energy transfers between species, unlike the simpler, linear food chain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The complex and non-linear process of energy flow between species is called the food web. Unlike the linear food chains that are simpler and easier to understand, food webs encompass the multitude of feeding relationships and energy transfers between different organisms in an ecosystem. While a food chain follows a single path, illustrating how energy is passed from one trophic level to the next, a food web represents multiple interacting pathways and provides a more accurate and comprehensive depiction of how energy flows through various organisms.