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Food chain and food web are two different yet closely related terms. Food chains refer to the process in which every organism depends on the next organism present lower in the order of hierarchy as a source of food and nutrition. Food web is inclusive of every food chain in the environment. It shows how plants and animals are interdependent for obtaining food and nutrition.
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Keyterms: Food Chain, Food Web, Plants, Animals, Ecosystem, food, nutrition
What is Food Chain and Food Web?
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Food chain and food web are two different yet closely related terms. Although they are not the same, food chains and food webs are often used interchangeably.
Food Chains
Food chain follows a single path where animals depend on organisms lower in the order of hierarchy to obtain food. It is a sequence of living organisms in our ecosystem. It consists of decomposers, composers, and producers.
It is the activity or procedure of the relationship between organisms that eat the preceding one and is eaten by the succeeding one. Transfers energy and material as they flow through each other in the ecosystem, Here energy is neither created nor destroyed, it flows from level to level through plants to animals in level.
Producers are green plants, consumers are termed as animals and humans, and microorganisms are termed as decomposers. Food chains are of two types: Gazing Food Chains and Detritus Food Chain. For example, Sun (Sunlight) - Grasshopper - Frog - Snake - Hawk
Food Web
Food web determines how animals and plants are interconnected by different paths. It is when numerous food chains connect to form some sort of network that network is termed as Food Web. Organisms on the food web have one thing in common which is the requirement of energy to carry out further activities. Food webs are not linear at all, they are interlocking. They do not operate in isolation.
Food Web
Examples of Food Web
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Difference Between Food Chain and Food Web
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| Food Chain | Food Web |
|---|---|
| It is a linear system or pathway which begins from producers, then goes on with first, second, and third consumers. Organisms in the ecosystem are grouped into the trophic level and those represent a linear flow of transfer of food energy. | It is the network of the food chain which is interconnected at numerous trophic levels showing the flow of energy. |
| It is the activity or procedure of relationship between organisms which eats the preceding one and is eaten by the succeeding one | It is when numerous food chains connect to form some sort of network that network is termed as Food web. |
| Members of high trophic levels feed on one single type of organism. | Members of high trophic levels feed on many types of organisms. |
| It has no role in the flexibility and determination of organisms. | It has a role in the determination and flexibility of organisms. |
| It consists of approximately 4-6 trophic levels. | It consists of many trophic levels. |
| It increases the uncertainty of the ecosystem. | It increases the certainty of the ecosystem. |
| If one organism is eliminated or removed it can affect the entire food chain. | All these organisms are interconnected like a spider’s web, if one organism is eliminated or removed it won’t disturb the entire food web. |
| The single food chain is unstable in an ecosystem. | These are stable for the ecosystem. |
| The food chain is a simple and easy process. | It is a complex process. |
| There are two types of Food Chains - Grazing Food Chain and Detritus Food Chain. | There is no such type of Food Web. |
| Example: Sun (Sunlight) - Grasshopper- Frog- Snake- Hawk. | Example: Trees create Acorns, and acorns act as food for Mice and Insects, Mice, and Insects, act as food for Weasels and Snakes, Insects also attract Birds, Opossums, and Skunks, Skunks, Opossums, Mice, and Weasels, act as food to Owls, and foxes. |
Characteristics of Food Chain and Food Web
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The characteristics of Food Chain and Food Web are:
Food Chain
- It has nutritional bilateral and interaction between the living organisms of the ecosystem.
- It has 3-4 trophic levels. The maximum level is 5.
- Some of the organisms in the ecosystem are omnivores. This organism occupies a position in different food chains.
- It progressively has a straight pathway and proceeds.
- There’s the undivided flow of energy.
Food Web
- This helps maintain ecosystem development.
- It helps in checking over the populations of highly fruitful species of the organisms.
- Alternatives available here make the ecosystem unstable.
- It provides alternative paths for the availability of food.
- These webs are never straight. It is formed by the interconnection of food chains.
Also Read: Endemic Species
Things to Remember
- Food chain shows the close relationship between the organisms existing in an ecosystem.
- It shows how every organism is dependent on each other for survival.
- Food web reveals the way of interaction between organisms and the structure of the community.
- Food web is inclusive of all the food chains existing in an ecosystem.
Also Read: Our Environment
Sample Questions
Ques. Write a food chain having two trophic levels. (1 mark)
Ans. The food chain that has two trophic levels is “Plant - Man”.
Ques. What limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain? (1 mark)
Ans. Due to the loss of energy, as the energy flows from one trophic level to the next, this is the reason for the limits of the number of trophic levels in a food chain.
Ques. Which food chains are advantageous in terms of energy? (1 mark)
Ans. The food chain that is advantageous in terms of energy is the two-step chain in which humans are close to producers.
Ques. What is the correct sequence of various trophic levels in a food chain? (1 mark)
Ans. The correct sequence is:
Producers, Primary Consumers, Secondary Consumers, Tertiary Consumers.
Ques. State the characteristics of the Food Web. (5 marks)
Ans. The characteristics of the Food Web are:
- This helps maintain ecosystem development.
- It helps in checking over the populations of highly fruitful species of the organisms.
- Alternatives available here make the ecosystem unstable.
- It provides alternative paths for the availability of food.
- These webs are never straight. It is formed by the interconnection of food chains.
Ques. Write the difference between food chain and food web. (3 marks)
Ans. Differences are:
| Food Chain | Food Web |
|---|---|
| It is a linear system or pathway which begins with producers, and then goes on with first, second, and third consumers. Organisms in the ecosystem are grouped into the trophic level and those represent a linear flow of transfer of food energy. | It is the network of the food chain which is interconnected at numerous trophic levels showing the flow of energy. |
| It is the activity or procedure of the relationship between organisms which eats the preceding one and is eaten by the succeeding one | It is when numerous food chains connect to form some sort of network that network is termed as Food web. |
| Members of high trophic levels feed on one single type of organism. | Members of high trophic levels feed on many types of organisms. |
Ques. Give the names of the type of food chains. (1 mark)
Ans. Food chain: Grazing Food Chain and Detritus Food Chain.
Ques. How many trophic levels are present in the Food Chain? (1 mark)
Ans. There are almost 4 to 6 trophic levels in the Food Chain.
Previous Year Questions Related to Food Chain and Food Web
- What is the major cause of diminishing wildlife number … (NEET 1998)
- In your opinion which is most effective way to conserve the plant diversity … (NEET 2004)
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