What is a food web?

A food web is a network of interconnected food chains, showing how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. It depicts the feeding relationships between different organisms, from producers (plants) to primary, secondary, and higher-level consumers (animals).

In a food web, each organism occupies a specific trophic level based on its feeding habits:

1. Producers (Autotrophs): These are organisms that can produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Plants are the primary producers in most terrestrial food webs, synthesizing energy from sunlight through photosynthesis.

2. Primary Consumers (Herbivores): Herbivores are organisms that consume only plant material. They feed directly on producers, occupying the second trophic level. Examples include insects, rabbits, and deer.

3. Secondary Consumers (Carnivores): Carnivores are organisms that primarily feed on herbivores. They occupy the third trophic level and include animals such as foxes, wolves, and many bird species.

4. Tertiary Consumers (Top Carnivores): Top carnivores are at the highest trophic levels, typically preying on other carnivores or herbivores. Examples include lions, polar bears, and eagles.

5. Decomposers: Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down organic matter and nutrients from dead organisms, releasing them back into the environment. They occupy the final trophic levels.

Food webs illustrate how energy from the sun flows through various trophic levels as organisms consume one another. Each trophic level transfers only about 10% of the energy it receives to the next level, so energy is lost as it moves up the food web. This limits the length and complexity of food webs.