Dean M. answered • 10/29/15
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Justin,
Your question is not a "simple" short answer.
First, within the body, for our purpose we will assume it is a human system, you have 2 basic mechanisms- aerobic (requires oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen). Further, to your "energy transferred" section, while the rules stated above hold, you also have to look at individual cells, i.e. the Krebs cycle, which out lines the process of moving ADP to ATP, where ATP is "used" as fuel by splitting off the 3rd phosphate group, rendering ADP (D= Di Phosphate), which re-enters the Krebs cycle and is converted back to ATP. Energy is transferred, via the Krebs cycle, to complete this reaction.
If we look at plant cells, you now have to consider photosynthesis, both the light and dark reaction. During the "light" reaction, sunlight is converted to oxygen, while the dark reaction (at night) is a reversal of this process. (Note: this is one of the reasons that hospitals remove plants from patients' rooms at night). Within photosynthesis, you have multiple receptors, based on the wavelength of light that each captures. For example, you have green, red, yellow, and orange, depending on the species of tree and its' location.
Finally, if you consider algae and certain bacteria as "living", you can also have different energy transfer methods, i.e. sunlight, absorption of decomposing material, etc. Side note: additionally, you mention "living" systems, do you want to include fungi (probably), but what about viruses?
