Question

Define food chain and mention the types of food chain.

Answer 1

Food chain is the relationship between the individuals that constitutes a linear chain. In a food chain of an ecosystem, energy flows from one trophic level to another. There are 2 types of food chains, namely Grazing food chain and Detritous food chain. Grazing food chain starts from producers or plants and passes on to herbivorous primary consumers to carnivorous secondary consumers and ends with tertiary carnivorous animals. Detritous food chain starts with dead organic matter and goes to microorganisms and then passes on to organ­isms that feed on detrivores and their preda­tors. It is seen in temperate forest regions where there is plenty of organic matter in the soil.