Nutrients are molecules ingested that organisms need to make energy, grow, develop, and reproduce. They consist of both macronutrients and micronutrients. There are four basic macronutrients: 1) carbohydrates, 2) lipids (fats), 3) proteins, and 4) water. Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals.
When organisms are consumed, the transfer of energy to the next level is not 100% efficient. With each increase in trophic level, only about 10% of the energy in organisms from one trophic level transfers to the higher trophic level.
This means that 90% of energy is lost between trophic levels. It can be not digested or assimilated into tissue, then discarded through excretion, or is lost through heat created from respiration and the digestion and assimilation processes.
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