What is the term for a simple path of energy flow through the trophic levels?

The term that describes a simple path of energy flow through the trophic levels is a food chain. A food chain illustrates how energy moves through different organisms in an ecosystem, starting with producers, such as plants, and progressing through various levels of consumers, such as herbivores and carnivores. It captures a linear sequence of who eats whom, showing a clear pathway of energy transfer.

In contrast, a food web represents a more complex network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem, highlighting how various organisms are related in terms of energy transfer. The feeding relationship refers broadly to the interactions between organisms in regard to their dietary habits, but does not specify the linear path of energy flow like a food chain does. An energy web, while a term that might seem similar, isn't the standard terminology used in ecology to describe this concept. Therefore, the food chain directly conveys the idea of a straightforward energy flow through specific trophic levels.