The sequence of exchanges of materials and energy in the form of food from one organism to another is referred to as the food chain in ecology. Because most species ingest more than one type of animal or plant, food chains and food webs interact locally to form a food web. The primary food source is plants, which turn sun energy into food through photosynthesis. A plant-eating animal is eaten by a flesh-eating species in a predatory chain. A tiny creature consumes a portion of a larger host and may be parasitized by even smaller species in a parasite chain. Microorganisms in a saprophytic chain feed on dead organic substances.
Types of Food Chain
- Grazing Food Chain : This food chain begins with living green plants, then moves on to grazing herbivores, and finally to carnivores. Ecosystems with this type of food chain are completely reliant on sun radiation.
As a result, this type of cycle is reliant on autotrophic energy capture and the transfer of that energy to herbivores. This form of food chain is seen in the majority of natural ecosystems. Grazing food chains include phytoplanktons→ zooplanktons → fish sequences and grass → rabbit → fox sequences, for example.
- Detritus Food Chain : This sort of food chain starts with dead organic matter, then moves on to microorganisms, detritus-feeding creatures (detritivores), and predators. As a result, such ecosystems are less reliant on direct solar energy. These are mostly reliant on the inflow of organic materials generated in another system. In a temperate woodland, for example, such a food chain can be found digesting accumulated litter.
Significance
- Food chain research aids in understanding the feeding relationship and interactions among organisms in any ecosystem.
- They also assist us in appreciating the energy flow mechanism and matter circulation in ecosystems, as well as understanding harmful material migration.
- The study of the food chain aids in the comprehension of bio-magnification issues.
Classification of Grazing Food Chain :
Predator Chain : In this case, one animal eats another. The prey is the animal that is being eaten, and the predator is the animal that is eating the prey.Plants start the energy cycle because they use sunshine and soil to make food. Animals, on the other hand, are energy consumers because they eat other plants and animals.