What term describes a simplified path that illustrates the transfer of potential chemical energy from one organism to another?

The term that describes a simplified path illustrating the transfer of potential chemical energy from one organism to another is "food chain." A food chain represents a linear sequence of organisms where each one serves as a source of energy for the next in the sequence. This concept is crucial in understanding ecosystems, as it highlights how energy flows from producers, such as plants that convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis, to primary consumers, such as herbivores, and then to secondary consumers, or carnivores.

In contrast to a food web, which is a more complex and interconnected representation of various food chains in an ecosystem, a food chain simplifies these relationships, allowing for a clearer understanding of energy transfer and trophic interactions. The concept of trophic levels focuses on different positions organisms occupy in the food chain, while energy flow refers to the overall movement of energy through the ecosystem, which encompasses both food chains and food webs.