The term for the transfer of energy through a food web is known as energy flow. Energy flow starts with producers converting sunlight into chemical energy via photosynthesis. This energy is passed through various trophic levels, including herbivores and carnivores, as they consume one another. However, at each level, a significant amount of energy is lost as heat or through metabolic processes, typically around 90%. Understanding energy flow is crucial for analyzing ecosystem dynamics, productivity, and the impact of human activities on ecological balance.