The matter that is not consumed by the consumers in the food chain becomes a detritus, which means waste or the materials that are uneaten by the consumers. These materials are left to be decomposed, it is then broken down by decomposers such as fungi and bacteria into simple compounds. It is often considered as a missing mass while measuring the mass in the food chain.
Kinda like a pyramid. The bottom is wide, many sources of energy (plant life) that take nutrients combine them with water use the bonding of the suns rays and convert that to matter. This matter is then consumed by animals (grazers and browsers), who in turn are fed upon by predators. With man as the top predator.
Take a few seeds from wire-grass. Wire-grass grows in many natural communities, it is eaten by rodents and birds, like Quail. Quail are eaten by snakes, who are eaten by hawks, bobcats, and raccoons.
every time the meal is transferred from one critter to the next, energy is expended in the chase (heat) and capture, and energy is always being used for the animals to survive day by day.
