Food chain
Definition
A food chain is a linear sequence that shows how energy and nutrients are transferred from one organism to another in an ecosystem. It starts with producers (plants) and ends with top consumers (predators).
Analogy
Imagine a relay race where each runner passes on a baton to the next runner. In a food chain, energy is passed on from one organism to another just like the baton in a relay race.
Related terms
Trophic level: Each step or level in a food chain where organisms obtain their energy.
Herbivore: An animal that only eats plants as its primary source of nutrition.
Carnivore: An animal that primarily feeds on other animals for sustenance.
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