Compare and contrast a food chain and a food web.

Both a food chain and a food web show the transfer of energy through an ecosystem, from autotrophs to final consumers. However, they have a number of differences. A food chain only shows one path of energy transfer, whereas a food web shows the interactions of all the energy pathways in the ecosystem. Moreover, a food chain only has one specie occupying each trophic level, compared to a food web where each trophic level can have multiple organisms and each organism can occupy multiple trophic levels.For example, in a food chain a primary consumer may be earthworms, however in a food web the primary consumers can be earthworms and birds, where birds also feed on earthworms and therefore are a secondary consumer too.

Answered by Tia N. Biology tutor

16600 Views

See similar Biology IB tutors

Related Biology IB answers

All answers ▸

Saccharomyces is a microscopic eukaryote. Explain the use of Saccharomyces in beer production.


What is the probability of offspring (both male and female) being affected by haemophilia if both parents are unaffected?


What is endosymbiotic theory?


Explain the process of human digestion from the mouth to the stomach.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences