{i} food chain, pyramid-shaped structure illustrating the feeding order in nature wherein each organism feeds upon the next lowest creature, feeding relationships between predators and prey wherein animals and plants get food in an ecosystem
The process of interconnected food chains (including plants, herbivores, and carnivores) that create a pathway that transfers energy throughout a biological community
A diagram that represents the feeding relationships between organisms within an ecosystem Food webs generally consist of a series of interconnecting food chains and it is important to understand that they are representative diagrams -- only some of the many possible relationships can be sown in such a diagram and it is typical to include only one or two carnivores at the highest level
The interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem These relationships can be complex; some organisms may feed on more than one trophic level, or changes may occur depending on a species' life history stages or the availability of food
A model describing the organisms found in a food chain Food webs describe the complex patterns of energy flow in an ecosystem by modeling who consumes who
A non-linear network of feeding between organisms that includes many food chains, and hence multiple organisms on each trophic level For example, both sharks and tuna eat herring, and sharks also eat tuna
An interlocking system of separate food chains in any (cave) community Fauna Ref AC
refers to a group of interrelated food chains in a particular community A food chain is a group of organisms interrelated by the fact that each member of the group feeds upon on the one below it and is in turn eaten by the organism above it in the chain
- How plants, predators and prey interact The interaction of all food chains found in an ecological community
[ 'füd ] (noun.) before 12th century. Middle English fode, from Old English fOda; akin to Old High German fuotar food, fodder, Latin panis bread, pascere to feed.