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) Food chain

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

Grass (Producer)⟶Deer (Herbivore)⟶Lion(Carnivore)
(b) Food web

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

Five food chains are possible in this food web, which are as follows.
1) Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Hawk
2) Grass → Grasshopper → Rat → Fox
3) Grass → Rabbit → Fox
4) Grass → Rat → Snake →Hawk
5) Grass → Rat → Hawk