Food web

Definition

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem. It illustrates how different species are related through feeding relationships and energy flow.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Food webs demonstrate the multiple feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.
2. They show how energy and nutrients cycle through ecosystems via trophic levels, from producers to top predators.
3. The stability of an ecosystem can often be inferred from the complexity of its food web.
4. Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the structure of a food web.
5. Disruptions in a food web, such as the removal or decline of a species, can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem.

Review Questions

• What is the primary function of a food web in an ecosystem?
• How does a food web differ from a simple food chain?
• Why are keystone species important in maintaining the structure of a food web?

Related terms

Trophic Levels: Different positions that organisms occupy in a food chain or web, such as producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Keystone Species:

Species that have disproportionately large effects on their ecosystems relative to their abundance.

Energy Flow: The transfer of energy through trophic levels from primary producers to various consumers within an ecosystem.