Difference Between Food Web and Food Chain

Last Updated on March 29, 2022

Introduction and Food Chain Function

Food webs and food chains are often used interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms that each rely on the next as a food source. For example, a grassy field may support a population of rabbits. The rabbits are then eaten by foxes, which may in turn be hunted by humans. So, in this food chain, the sun->grass->rabbits->foxes->humans.

Food Web

A food web is much more complex, and includes many different food chains that are interconnected. For example, the same grassy field may support not only rabbits, but also mice, frogs, and hen. The rabbits may be eaten by foxes or snakes, the mice may be eaten by snakes or owls, the frogs may be eaten by snakes or fish, and the hen may be eaten by foxes, owls, or humans. So, in this food web, there are many different paths that the energy could take: sun->grass->rabbits->foxes or sun->grass->mice->snakes->owls or sun->grass->frogs->snakes->fish, and so on.

Conclusion

A food web is a more accurate representation of how energy flows through an ecosystem, because it shows the many different pathways that energy can take. It is important to remember that food webs are complex systems, and that even a small change in one part of the web can have a big impact on the entire ecosystem.