Energy and nutrients are passed around through the food chain, when one organism eats another organism. Any energy remaining in a dead organism is consumed by decomposers. Nutrients can be cycled through an ecosystem but energy is simply lost over time. Green plants contain chlorophyll which can absorb solar energy by the process of photosynthesis. Herbivores or plant eating organisms consume the plants and receive some of the energy stored in plants. Carnivores or flesh eating organisms by consuming the herbivores satisfy the need of energy in their body.