Question

What is a food chain? How does the study of food chain areas or habitats help us? Give an example of a four-step food chain operating in a large lake.

Answer 1

Hint: All matter present in the ecosystem is conserved but there is a flow of energy in it. This energy moves from one organism to the next which is known as the food chain. All living things need nutrients for their survival and this food chain is the feeding relationship in them.

Complete answer:
A food chain is a linear network of links in a food web from producer to predator detritivores or decomposers species. It helps to show how organisms are related to each other by the food they eat. Each level in this chain represents a different trophic level.

Food chains are important for the survival of most organisms. If even one element is removed from the food chain it can result in the extinction of a species. The foundation of the food chain consists of primary producers or autotrophs. They utilize energy that is derived from the sunlight to form complex producers for the process of photosynthesis. The length of a food chain is a continuous variable providing a measure of the passage of energy and its ecological structure in the lowest to highest trophic levels.

They are important within the ecosystem for balancing the food chain by keeping animal populations at a reasonable number. We can find interesting examples of food chains ranging from forests to lakes. Phytoplankton is one-celled organisms that are present at the bottom level of the ocean’s food chain. They are very microscopic and usually take up sunlight and convert it into chemical energy which is needed for their survival through the process of photosynthesis. They are the main source of carbon for animals for survival.

The next level is zooplankton which drifts across the surface of the ocean. As they drift, they graze on whatever plant they come across. The third stage of the food chain consists of a large group of small carnivores which includes fishes like sardines and herring which eat large amounts of zooplankton. We know that large predators sit at the top of the marine food chain. Some finned animals like sharks, feathered predators like penguins are good hunters. They have a long lifespan. Loss of them can cause a serious issue in the ecosystem. These problems might ripple throughout the whole food chain.

Note: Food chain helps scientists learn about the ecosystem and how to keep balance in it. It was first introduced by Al - Jahiz, an Arab scientist and philosopher, in the 10th century. It was published in a popularized book in 1927 by Charles Elton which also introduced the food web concept.