A food web is a complex network that illustrates how different organisms in an ecosystem are connected through feeding relationships
. Unlike a simple food chain, which shows a single path of energy flow (who eats whom), a food web maps out all the interconnected food chains within a community, demonstrating that most organisms eat and are eaten by more than one species
. Food webs are made up of:
- Producers : Organisms like plants and algae that make their own food through photosynthesis.
- Consumers : Animals that eat other organisms. These include herbivores (primary consumers), carnivores (secondary and tertiary consumers), and omnivores.
- Decomposers : Organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem
This interconnected structure helps to show the flow of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem and highlights the interdependence of species, making food webs essential for understanding ecological balance and the stability of natural communities
