Final answer:
Energy in an ecosystem flows from producers to consumers, with producers using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis to make food which is then passed up the food chain.
Step-by-step explanation:
Energy in an ecosystem flows from producers to consumers. Producers, such as plants, microbes, and algae, capture energy from sunlight through photosynthesis or from chemical compounds through chemosynthesis. This energy is converted into food, which is then consumed by herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores in a hierarchy known as a food chain or food web. Consumers get the energy they need by eating producers (like plants) or other organisms that have eaten producers. These relationships are essential for the flow of energy and for the survival of ecosystems.