The difference between the food chain and the food web is mainly due to the network of links and the number of trophic levels the organisms form in the different ecosystems. A food chain is a one-way pathway that includes a linear network of linking organisms. In contrast, a food web shows a complex network where many food chains altogether show the interrelation of organisms.
A trophic level depicts energy and nutrient flow in the ecosystem, generally in a sequence from producers, consumers and finally to decomposers. A food chain generally represents trophic levels starting from the producers green plants , consumers herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, predators to the decomposers fungi and bacteria. In contrast, a food web connects different food chains or the organisms distributed at different trophic levels of our ecosystem.
Each link in the food web is connected to at least two other relative organisms. It refers to a one-way representation of the energy transfer between the organisms from the lower to the higher trophic level organisms. It simply makes us understand that who-eats-whom.
The organisms are grouped into three trophic levels in a food chain, namely producers, consumers, and decomposers. Thus, the food chain represents a single chain or a sequence of events where the higher organism feed on a single type of lower organism and producer.
It refers to the geographical representation of the ecological community that represent the combination of interconnecting food chains. The food web shows different kinds of ecosystems terrestrial and aquatic altogether to give us an idea about the competitiveness and adaptability of the organisms belonging to different trophic levels. Thus, the food web represents multiple food chains where the higher organisms feed on various lower organisms and producers.
The distribution of organisms at a trophic level is the same in both the food chain and food web, which we will discuss below. Organisms in a food chain and food web are distributed at different trophic levels, as explained below:. They are autotrophic plants , which get energy from the sunlight and minerals or nutrients from the soil. Seaweeds and phytoplanktons in the aquatic habitats are also autotrophs.
Consumers - These are those organisms that eat different organisms. This is considered to be the largest part of the food web in the ecosystem. Decomposers - These are those organisms that get energy from dead or waste organic material. There are two types of the food chain which are as follows :.
Detritus Food Chain - This food chain includes different kinds of species of organisms and plants like algae, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, mites, insects, worms, and so on. This food chain begins with dead organic material. The consumed energy passes into composers and detritivores which are eaten by smaller organisms like carnivores.
Grazing Food Chain - This food chain starts with green plants and passes through herbivores and then to carnivores. In this food chain, the lowest trophic level acquires energy from photosynthesis.
This comprises a number of several interconnected food chains form a food web. This is usually similar to a food chain but it is comparatively larger than a food chain. In this, a single organism is consumed by several organisms.
The species interaction can be described very clearly. A major set of illustrations regarding the interactions can be made between all the types of species.
This can be used to study the top to bottom and bottom to top control of community structure. This reveals the flow of energy transfer from one level to the other or in terrestrial and an aquatic ecosystem. Food chain Food web It is a pathway in which organisms in an ecosystem are grouped into trophic levels and are shown in a succession to represent a linear flow of food energy and the feeding relationships between them.
It consists of many numbers of trophic levels It increases the instability of an ecosystem. It increases the stability of an ecosystem It does not improve the adaptability and competition amongst the organisms.
Who eats what? Food Chains and Food Web Quiz. A food web consists of many food chains. A food web shows the many different paths plants and animals are connected. The snake may eat a beetle, a caterpillar, or some other animal. And so on for all the other animals in the food chain. Create your own Food Web. Food Chains and Food Web Includes example of a pond foodweb.
For more information on the differences click here. Herbivore - an animal that eats plants. See photos Carnivore - an animal that eats other animals. See photos Omnivore - an animal that eats both plants and animals eg bears and humans.
See photos. Producer - usually a green plant that produces its own food by photosynthesis Primary Consumer - Animals that consume only plant matter. They are herbivores - eg rabbits, caterpillars, cows, sheep, and deer. Secondary Consumer - Animals that eat primary consumers herbivores.
Tertiary Consumer - Animals that eat secondary consumers ie carnivores that feed on other carnivores. Predators - kill for food. They are either secondary or tertiary consumers - eg polar bears, golden eagles Prey - are the organisms that predators feed on. Examples of predator and prey species are: fox and rabbit; blue tit and caterpillar; wolf and lamb.
Scavenger - a consumer that eats dead animals e. Detritivore - a consumer that obtains its nutrients from detritus Decomposer - an organism such as bacteria and fungi that breaks down dead organisms and their wastes. They do not 'eat' the food like scavengers, as they have no mouth-parts.
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