The trophic level interaction among the organisms leads to the formation of the Food Web, Food Chain, and Ecological Pyramid.
Food Chain
All the organisms are related to the sequence in which one feeds on another and the transfer of food energy takes place from the producer to the Consumers (Autotrophs to Carnivores or Omnivores etc.). This sequence is known as the Food Chain.
Types of Food Chains
There are two types of food chains known in nature: Grazing and Detritus.
1. Grazing Food Chain
This food chain starts with the green plants (or primary producers) at the first trophic level and the green plants are utilized by the consumers as a part of their food.
This food chain is usually large and derives its energy from the sun.
An example of the simple food chain can be given as: Grass->Insects->Frogs->Snake->Hawk
In the above food chain grass is the primary producer that is eaten by the insects who are the primary consumers. The frog is the secondary consumer as it feeds upon the insects and the Snake is the tertiary consumer since it feeds upon the frog. Hawk is the top carnivore and it eats the snake which is a tertiary consumer.
An example of the food chain in the aquatic ecosystem: Phytoplankton (Primary producer)-> Zoo Plankton->Fishes->Pelicans
2. Detritus Food Chain
In the detritus food chain, the primary source of energy is dead organic matter (called detritus) of decaying animals or plants. Primary consumers are detritivores which include Bacteria, Fungi, and Protozoans and these detritivores feed upon the detritus. Detritivores are eaten by secondary consumers like nematodes, insect larvae, etc.
The Detritus food chains are generally shorter than the Grazing Food Chains.
Detritus food chains are vital in the ecosystem since the detritivores act upon the dead organic matter of the grazing food chain and help in recycling the elements in the ecosystem.
Example of the Detritus Food Chain : Litter->Earthworms->Chicken->Hawk
Food Web
The food chain as an isolated relationship represents only one part of the energy flow. This type of Individual relationship in the form of a Food Chain seldom occurs in an ecosystem. Thus, in nature organisms are interconnected with each other via the multiple feeding relationships of nutrient and energy transfer, which is known as the Food Web.
A food web demonstrates all the possible flow of energy as well as nutrients among the organisms within an ecosystem, unlike a food chain which runs only a single pathway.
The food web provides multiple alternatives for the food to organisms and if any of the intermediate food chains is removed the other succeeding links of the food chain will also be affected to a larger extent. Thus, multiple food chains which are directly related to biodiversity is also vital for the very existence of an ecosystem. Suppose any critical element like Vulture/ Hawk is eliminated from the food chain, in that case, it may affect the whole ecosystem.
Due to the variability of taste, preferences, and various other climatic factors, there is multiplicity and complexity within the food web. For Example, a tiger that does not have deer as a food due to a lack of deer in that region or other factors may resort to other alternatives thus giving origin to another food chain and in turn more complex Food Web.
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