Food Chains and Food Webs

Introduction
In nature, all living things are connected. Plants, animals, and microorganisms depend on each other for food and survival. These feeding relationships are shown using food chains and food webs.

What Is a Food Chain?
A food chain shows how energy passes from one organism to another. A simple food chain looks like this:

Grass → Deer → Lion

This means:

• Grass is eaten by the deer
• Deer is eaten by the lion

Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

• Producers: Plants that make their own food
• Consumers: Animals that eat plants or other animals
• Decomposers: Organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter

What Is a Food Web?
A food web is a group of connected food chains. In real ecosystems, animals eat more than one type of food, so food webs are more realistic than simple food chains.

Why Are Food Chains Important?
They help us understand:

• How energy flows in nature
• How removing one species can affect many others
• Why protecting wildlife is important for ecosystem balance

Summary
Food chains and food webs show how life is interconnected. Every organism plays an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy.