Question

Define the food chain. Describe the flow of energy in an ecosystem with the help of a linear diagram.

Answer 1

Hint: The relationship showing the consumption of an organism linearly eating another organism to attain energy for survival. The energy is transferred from one trophic level to another in a sequential manner.

Complete answer:
The linear network of links present in the food web which starts from the green plants (producers) and lasts at the predators (consumers) is known as the food chain. It is the sequence of species through which food and energy are passed in an ecosystem. A food chain shows how the organisms are related to each other by the food they eat. Each level of the food chain represents a trophic level.
The energy is transferred from one trophic level to another. The energy is produced from the sun which is absorbed by the producers for the process of photosynthesis. This energy is later converted into the chemical energy which is then stored in the producers. When the herbivores eat these plants it will degrade the energy which is then consumed by the consumers and the energy will further degrade.
There are two types of food chains, they are:
Grazing food chain – this food chain starts with the green plants or producers. The food energy then passes through the herbivores and lastly to the carnivores. Here the energy required in the producers is through the process of photosynthesis.
Detritus food chain – this food chain starts with dead organic matters. The food energy passes into decomposers and detritivores, which are further eaten by smaller organisms like carnivores.

Note: The Arab scientist and philosopher Al-Jahiz were the first to introduce the food chains in the tenth century which was later published in 1927 and was popularized by Charles Elton. The concept of the food web was also introduced by Charles Elton.