INTRODUCTION 

Ecosystem is formed by biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions with each other each factor plays very important role in the ecosystem. Producers like plants are important. Herbivores like deer, goats, sheep, cattle horses, camels, etc. feeding upon producers are also important. Predators like lion and tiger which prevent over population of herbivores are equally important. The caterpillars found in nature, organisms present in filthy places, termites, insects present in dung. These organisms are also important though they are dirty. They are responsible for cleaning the environment. Our existence is due to these factors present around us.


 DEFINITION

FOOD CHAIN: Food chain is a linear sequence of organism which starts from producers' organisms and ends with decomposer species. It shows the flow of energy from one organism to the other.

FOOD WEB: Food web is a connection of multiple food chains.

Food chain and food web are integral part of this ecosystem.


 

COMPONENTS OF FOOD CHAIN
       
THE SUN        : Everything on earth gets from the sun, which is the first source of energy in food chain.
PRODUCERS: Utilizes the energy from the sun to make food and prepares food. 
CONSUMERS: Organisms that are dependent on plant or other organisms to make plants
Decomposers: Decomposers are organism that get energy from dead or waste material.
Energy transfer occurs according to the 10 percent energy law between levels of organisms, while 1 percent of energy is received at the primary level of organisms from the Sun.

TYPES OF FOOD CHAIN 

1.GRAZING FOOD CHAIN

              Grazing food chain starts from producers or plants and passes on to herbivorous                       primary consumers to carnivorous secondary consumers and ends with tertiary                           Carnivorous animals. 


2. DETRIUS FOOD CHAIN

Detritus food chain starts with dead organic matter and goes to microorganisms and then passes on to organ­isms that feed on detrivores and their preda­tors. It is seen in temperate forest regions where there is plenty of organic matters.


         Animals don't eat the same food every day and like to interact with various prey, so a food chain alone might not be enough to represent the complexity of our ecosystems. This is where food webs come in! By combining multiple food chains, food webs show you how energy travels all-around a habitat. 

            



                                                         FOOD WEB
 
There are unique interactions and relationships which are involved in the transportation of energy. The energy, once produced and captured, is distributed throughout the various living organisms. This transfer of energy is termed as the food web. 



Food webs connect many different food chains, and many different trophic levels. Food webs can support food chains that are long and complicated, or very short.
Animals don't eat the same food every day and like to interact with various prey, so a food chain alone might not be enough to represent the complexity of our ecosystems. This is where food webs come in! By combining multiple food chains, food webs show you how energy travels all-around a habitat.

The significance of the food chain is:

  1. The study of the food chain helps to understand the feeding relationships and the interaction between the organisms and the ecosystem.
  2. It helps to understand the mechanism of energy flow and the process of circulation of matter in an ecosystem.
  3. It helps to understand the flow of toxins along the different trophic levels resulting in biomagnification.

    Causes for Disruptions in the Food Web

    1. Overpopulation
    2. Water pollution
    3. Acid rain
    4. Climate change
    5. Air pollution
    6. Hunting
    7. Soil pollution
    8. Illegal dumping
    9. Littering
    10. Mining
    11. Deforestation
    12. Human greed
    13. Natural causes 
     Solutions for Food Web Disruptions
Global cooperation
Protection of natural habitats
Protection of species
Adjustments in consumption behavior
Avoidance of waste
Reduction in pollution
Mitigate global warming.
Population control
Research on food web dynamics
Education
Raise awareness and convince family and friends.
CONCLUSION 
Understanding food chains is vital, as they explain the intimate relationships in an ecosystem. A food chain shows us how every living organism is dependent on other organisms for survival. The food chain explains the path of energy flow inside an ecosystem.
A healthy food web has an abundance of autotrophs, many herbivores, and relatively few carnivores and omnivores. This balance helps the ecosystem maintain and recycle biomass. Hence, we should care for these factors.

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