Food Chain

Food chain tells us how energy is transferred from one organism to another.

It is a linear sequence of organisms (i.e. Energy flows in one direction )

 

food-chain---teachoo.jpg

 

For example - 

  • In a forest - Deer eats the leaves the trees and tiger eats the deer
    Trees ⟶ Deers ⟶ Tiger

  • In a grassland - Flies suck nectar from the flowers, frog eats the flies, snake eats the frog, and Eagles eat Snakes
    Flower ⟶ Flies ⟶ Frog ⟶ Snake ⟶ Eagles 

  • In a pond - Aquatic plants are eaten by Small fishes, small fishes are are eaten by larger fishes, and these larger fishes are eaten by birds like Pelicans
    Aquatic Plants ⟶ Small Fishes ⟶ Larger fishes ⟶ Birds like Pelicans




Food Web

Food web shows how many food chains are connected to each other.

It is a more realistic interpretation on how food is consumed in an ecosystem.

 

An example of food web is

food-web---teachoo.jpg

 

So, in this food web

  • The first food chain is, rabbit eats plant and eagles eat rabbit
    Plant ⟶ Rabbit ⟶ Eagles

 

  • The second food chain is, fox eats rabbit and fox is eaten by eagles
    Rabbit ⟶ Fox ⟶ Eagles  

 

  • Another can be
    Plant Grasshopper ⟶ Frog ⟶ Snake ⟶ Eagle

 

  • Another can be
    Plant Dragonfly ⟶ Thrush (insect eating bird) ⟶ Eagle

 

  • Another can be
    Plant Grasshopper ⟶ Rat ⟶  Fox ⟶ Eagle

 

Now, let’s study Trophic Level

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Maninder Singh's photo - Co-founder, Teachoo

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Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo