How do matter and energy interact in the food web?

In a food web, matter and energy are transferred between organisms as they consume and are consumed by each other. Producers (plants) convert energy from the sun into food through photosynthesis, which is then consumed by herbivores. Carnivores eat herbivores, transferring energy up the food chain. Organisms use this energy for growth, reproduction, and other life processes, while matter is recycled as organisms die and decompose, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.