Question

(a) What is a food chain? Give one example of a simple food chain.
(b) What is a 'food web'? Show its formation.

Answer 1

(a) The sequence of living organisms in a community in which one organism consumes another organism to transfer food energy is called a food chain. An example of a simple food chain is that operating in a grassland:

Grass $\to$ Deer $\to$ Lion
(Producer) (Herbivore) (Carnivore)

(b) The inter-connected food chains operating in an ecosystem that establish a network of relationships among various species comprise a food web.
A food web is formed by many food chains operating together. A food web operating in a grassland is shown in the figure.

Five food chains are possible in this food web, which are as follows.


1) Grass $\to$ Grasshopper $\to$ Frog $\to$ Hawk

2) Grass $\to$ Grasshopper $\to$ Rat $\to$ Fox

3) Grass $\to$ Rabbit $\to$ Fox

4) Grass $\to$ Rat $\to$ Snake $\to$Hawk

5) Grass $\to$ Rat $\to$ Hawk