Organisms in an ecosystem acquire energy in a variety of ways, which is transferred between trophic levels as the energy flows from the base to the top of the food web, with energy being lost at each transfer. There is energy lost at each trophic level, so the lengths of food chains are limited because there is a point where not enough energy remains to support a population of consumers.

Ecosystems exist underground, on land, at sea, and in the air. Fat soluble compounds biomagnify up a food chain causing damage to top consumers.

ecosystem — a community of living organisms and their interactions with their abiotic environment. lengths of food chains — limited because there is a point where not enough energy remains to support a population of consumers. food web — a web of trophic (feeding) relationships among producers, primary consumers, and higher level consumers in an ecosystem. food chain — a linear sequence of trophic (feeding) relationships of producers, primary consumers, and higher level consumers.