Food in ecosystems
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Food chains and webs
A food chain can be defined as a sequence of organisms feeding on each other. Organisms can be classified based on their position in food chains. A herbivore, (plant-eating animal) is known as a first-order consumer. The animal feeding on that animal (the herbivore), is known as the second-order consumer. An animal eating that animal (second-order consumer) is known as the third-order consumer, and it continues on.
A food web is practically lots of food chains combined, to form a web. Food chains are often all connected at some point, and are usually quite complex, as some organisms appear in several food chains.
A food chain can be defined as a sequence of organisms feeding on each other. Organisms can be classified based on their position in food chains. A herbivore, (plant-eating animal) is known as a first-order consumer. The animal feeding on that animal (the herbivore), is known as the second-order consumer. An animal eating that animal (second-order consumer) is known as the third-order consumer, and it continues on.
A food web is practically lots of food chains combined, to form a web. Food chains are often all connected at some point, and are usually quite complex, as some organisms appear in several food chains.