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Food Web
In natural environment or an ecosystem, the relationships between the food chains are
inter-connected. These relationships are very complex, as one organism may be a part
of multiple food chains. Hence, a web like structure is formed in place of a linear food
chain. The web like structure if formed with the interlinked food chain and such matrix
that is interconnected is known as a food web.
Food webs are an indispensible part of an ecosystem; these food webs allow an
organism to obtain food from more than one type of organism of the lower trophic
level. Every living being is responsible and is a part of multiple food chains in the given
ecosystem.
It
is
also
referred
to
as
a
consumer-resource
system.
A animal ecologist pioneer Charles Elton (1927) introduced the food web concept which
he referred to as food cycle. Charles Elton described the concept of food web as
: The carnivore animals prey upon the herbivores. These herbivores get the energy from
sun-light. The later carnivores may also be preyed upon by other carnivores. Until a
reach where an animal has no enemies it forms a terminus on this food cycle. There are
chains of animals that are linked together by food, and all are dependent on plants in
the long run. This is referred to as a food chain and all the food chains in a community
is known as the food cycle.
Food Web Definition
A food web is a graphical depiction of feeding connections among species of an
ecological community. Food web consists of food chains of a particular ecosystem. The
food web is a illustration of various methods of feeding that links the ecosystem. The
food web also defines the energy flow through species of a community as a result of
their feeding relationships. All the food chains are interconnected and overlapping within
an ecosystem and they make up a food web.
Trophic Levels

Food webs have trophic levels and trophic positions.

Species of plants form the first level basal species.
The basal species are also known as producers;
these are resources species on which the primary
consumers or primary predators feed on in the web.

These primary predators do not feed on any other
living creature other than the primary producers in the
food web.

The basal species can either consists of the
autotrophs or the detritivores that also includes
decomposing
organic
material
and
associated
microorganisms and plant material.

Autotrophs
capture
energy
form
sun-light
and
produce energy by the process of photosynthesis.
Others get energy chemical oxidation of inorganic
compounds.

In the top level are the apex predators or the
secondary predators, these species are not directly
killed for its food resources.

The intermediate trophic levels are filled with
omnivorous species which feed on more than one
trophic level and they cause the flow of energy
through various food pathways from the basal
species.

The scheme of the tropic levels is such that the first
trophic level consists the plants (level 1) and then the
primary consumers or herbivores (level 2) and then
the carnivores or secondary consumers (level 3). The
detritivores are considered at the zero level of the
food chain.
Task: Based on the reading, develop at least 8 questions with answers. You may
use a separate sheet of paper. 3 questions should be multiple choice, 3 questions
should be true or false, and 2 questions should be open-ended.
Tropical Forest Food Web
Grassland Food Web
Tundra Food Web
Boreal Forest Food Web
Desert Food Web
Aquatic Food Web