How does energy flow in the rock pool food web?

In a rock pool food web, energy flows from primary producers, such as algae and phytoplankton, which convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Herbivores, like small crustaceans and mollusks, consume these producers, transferring energy up the food chain. Predators, such as fish and larger invertebrates, feed on these herbivores, further propagating the energy flow. Decomposers, including bacteria and fungi, break down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the ecosystem and completing the cycle.