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Food Web

A food web is a graphical representation of the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem. It depicts multiple interconnected food chains. Charles Elton introduced the term "food web" to describe this complex network of energy and nutrient flow between organisms at different trophic levels. A food web increases ecosystem stability by allowing organisms to feed on many different prey and by preventing any single disturbance from affecting the entire system.

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60 views6 pages

Food Web

A food web is a graphical representation of the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem. It depicts multiple interconnected food chains. Charles Elton introduced the term "food web" to describe this complex network of energy and nutrient flow between organisms at different trophic levels. A food web increases ecosystem stability by allowing organisms to feed on many different prey and by preventing any single disturbance from affecting the entire system.

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nb gjvh
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FOOD WEB

A food web is simply interconnection of multiple


food chains.
Or
A group of food chains within an ecosystem.
Charles Elton gave the term food web (food cycle).

Definition - A food web is a graphical representation depicting many


food chains linked together to show the feeding relationships of
organisms in an ecosystem.

Characteristics -
1. Arrows show the flow of energy from one organism to another.
2. Multiple consumers and producers.
BENEFITS –
1. Members of higher trophic level can feed upon many
organism of the lower trophic level of other food chains.
2. Presence of complex food web increases the stability of
the ecosystem.
3. Food web do not allow starvation and help in increasing
the population of endangered species.
4. Some organisms operate at more than one trophic level.
Basis of Comparison Food Chain Food Web
It is the flow of energy through a single straight It is the multiple linked food chains
Meaning pathway from the lower trophic level to a higher through which flow of energy happens
one in the ecosystem

Composition It comprises of just one straight chain It comprises of various interconnected


food chains
Multiple interconnected pathways
Energy Flow Single linear pathway of energy and nutrient flow through which nutrient and energy
flows

Comprises of 4-6 trophic levels of different Comprises of multiple trophic levels of


Trophic Level species different populations of species
Members of higher trophic level feed
Members of higher trophic level feed upon a
Feeding Relationship single type of organisms of lower trophic level upon different types of organisms of
lower trophic levels

The whole chain gets affected if just one group of If one group of organisms is removed,
Disturbance an organism disturbs it does not impact the food web

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