1. Plants: The energy flow in an ecosystem starts with plants. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.
2. Grasshoppers: Grasshoppers feed on plants, consuming the energy stored in plant tissues.
3. Mice: Mice eat grasshoppers, thus acquiring the energy transferred from the plants to grasshoppers.
4. Owl: Owls hunt and feed on mice. By consuming mice, owls obtain the energy that originated from the plants and was transferred through grasshoppers.
This simplified example represents a linear food chain, showcasing the transfer of energy from producers (plants) to primary consumers (grasshoppers), secondary consumers (mice), and tertiary consumers (owls). Energy is lost at each transfer as organisms utilize energy for their survival and activities, releasing waste products.