Difference between Food Chain and Food Web for Class 10th

A food chain is a basic network that shows the linear flow of nutrients and energy from one trophic level to another. A food web is a multitude of interconnected food chains at many trophic levels.

Table of Contents

Difference between Food Chain and Food Web: Food webs and food chains are terminology used to describe the feeding interactions of creatures in an ecosystem. Since the terms food chain and food web are so closely related, we frequently used them interchangeably. However, there are difference between the Food Chain and the Food Web. In an Ecosystem, Food webs and food chains describe the flow of energy and nutrients of living organisms. Food chains and food webs are commonly used interchangeably, despite the fact that they are not the same thing. In this article, we are going to understand the Difference between Food Chain and Food Web in detail.

Difference between Food Chain and Food Web

Food chains and food webs are key ecological concepts that describe how species interact in an ecosystem and how energy is transported between them. There are difference between Food Chain and Food Web in terms of energy flow, stability, competitiveness, and other factors. The food chain is a hierarchical grouping of various predators and prey in ecology that usually reflects the ecological trophic levels. The food web, on the other hand, is a networked representation of food webs and the consumers and producers who inhabit them. But, before we go into the Difference Between Food Chain and Food Web, let’s define the two terms.

Difference between Food Chain and Food Web-What is Food Chain? with Diagram

A food chain is a linear way that represents of how food (nutrients) or energy moves through an ecosystem, demonstrating how it passes from one Producers, consumers, and decomposers . Green plants are the producers, followed by us and other animals as consumers, then microorganisms as decomposers.A straightforward food chain shows how energy moves from the grass plant, which is a producer, to the rabbit, which is the primary consumer, and then to the fox, which is a secondary consumer.

There are two kinds of food chains: gazing food chains and detritus food chains. The grazing food chain is made up of only one producer, one primary consumer, and one secondary consumer. The detritus food chain, on the other hand, begins with dead organic matter obtained from the grazing food chain.

Difference between Food Chain and Food Web- What is Food Web? with Diagram

A food web is a collection of several separate food chains and the relationships between organisms. A Food Web is a more complicated and interconnected diagram that depicts how different species are linked by the exchange of energy and nutrients. It also aids in our understanding of the interconnectedness and relationships that exist between different species, which aids in the correct functioning of an ecosystem.
The sun is the primary source of energy on Earth. This energy is used by green plants to produce food. After they capture this energy, it goes through a food chain that includes insects, birds, and predators.

Difference between Food Chain and Food Web in Tabular Form

The main and primary difference between food chain and food web is, a food chain is a linear representation of energy and nutrient movement in an ecosystem, but a food web is a more complicated and interconnected portrayal of numerous food chains within an ecosystem. Other significant differences Between Food Chain and Food Web are discussed in the following table:

Difference Between Food Chain and Food Web
Food Chain	Food Web
A food chain emphasizes on the movement of energy in a linear manner from producers to main consumers,	A food web portrays the relationships of interconnected food chains’ producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and so on.
A representation of a linear energy flow pathway.	A network representing the movement of energy from numerous interrelated food chains.
Energy flow is unidirectional in the food chain.	The energy flow in the food web occurs in different directions.
The food chain is a simple and straightforward operation.	Food webs are more complicated, depicting the interwoven links between several food chains.
It has roughly 4-6 trophic levels.	It has numerous trophic levels.
Food chains are less stable since a disruption in one organism might have an influence on the entire chain.	More stable, since the elimination of a group of creatures does not disrupt the food web., the other associated organisms compensate.
A certain lower trophic level organism is consumed by a higher level trophic organism.	Higher trophic level organisms consume a diverse spectrum of species.
The ability of the food chain to demonstrate variations and feeding pattern is limited as a results, it does not impact an organism’s capacity for adaptation or competitiveness.	The ability of an organism to adapt and compete in the ecosystem is enhanced by the food web.
Food Chains are classified into two types: grazing food chains and detritus food chains.	There is no such Types of a Food Web.
Grass → insects →frog → snake→ eagle	Fruits, for example, are consumed by any rodent, which is then ingested by a secondary consumer such as crows, and the secondary consumer is then consumed by a tertiary consumer such as dogs.

FAQs

Define Food Chain with an example?

Food chain follows a linear path, with animals relying on species below in the hierarchy for nourishment. It is a chain of living organisms in our environment. Its members include decomposers, composers, and producers.Example of a Food Chain is Grass → insects →frog → snake→ eagle

Define Food Web with an example?

A food web is a collection of several food chains and the interactions between organisms. A Food Web is a more complex and interconnected diagram that demonstrates how the exchange of energy and nutrients connects different species.Fruits, for example, are consumed by any rodent, which is then ingested by a secondary consumer such as crows, and the secondary consumer is then consumed by a tertiary consumer such as dogs.

What is the difference between Food Chain and Food Web?

The difference between Food Chain and Food Web are
1) Food chains are linear and have a single path of energy transfer, whereas food webs are more complicated and have numerous interconnected energy transfer pathways.
2) If any group of organisms in the food chain is upset, the entire chain is disturbed. However, the elimination of a group of creatures does not disrupt the food web.