food chain

food chain
1. Ecol. a series of organisms interrelated in their feeding habits, the smallest being fed upon by a larger one, which in turn feeds a still larger one, etc.
2. the chain from a food source to the ultimate consumer.
[1925-30]

* * *

Sequence of transfer of matter and energy from organism to organism in the form of food.

These interconnected feeding relationships intertwine locally into a food web because most organisms consume or are consumed by more than one other type of organism. Plants and other photosynthetic organisms (such as phytoplankton), which convert solar energy to food, are the primary food source. In a predator chain, a plant-eating animal is eaten by a larger animal. In a parasite chain (see parasitism), a smaller organism consumes part of a larger host and may itself be parasitized by even smaller organisms. In a saprophytic chain, microorganisms live on dead organic matter. Because energy, in the form of heat, is lost at each step, or trophic level, chains do not normally encompass more than four or five trophic levels.

* * *

 in ecology, the sequence of transfers of matter and energy from organism to organism in the form of food. Food chains intertwine locally into a food web because most organisms consume more than one type of animal or plant. Plants, which convert solar energy to food by photosynthesis, are the primary food source. In a predator (predation) chain, a plant-eating animal is eaten by a larger animal. In a parasite (parasitism) chain, a smaller organism consumes part of a larger host and may itself be parasitized by even smaller organisms. In a saprophytic chain, microorganisms live on dead organic matter.

      Because energy, in the form of heat, is lost at each step, or trophic level (q.v.), chains do not normally encompass more than four or five trophic levels. In overpopulated areas people (human being) commonly increase the total food supply by cutting out one step in the food chain: instead of consuming animals that eat cereal grains, the people themselves consume the grains. Because the food chain is made shorter, the total amount of energy available to the final consumers is increased.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Food chain — Food chains, also called, food networks and/or trophic networks, describe the feeding relationships between species within an ecosystem. Organisms are connected to the organisms they consume by arrows representing the direction of biomass or… …   Wikipedia

  • food chain — food ,chain noun count usually singular 1. ) a series of living things that are all connected because each one is eaten by the next in the series: Antibiotics used for treating cattle could get into the food chain. 2. ) the series of processes in …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • food chain — n the food chain all animals and plants considered as a group in which a plant is eaten by an insect or animal, which is then eaten by another animal and so on ▪ Pollution is affecting many creatures lower down the food chain …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • food chain — food chains N COUNT: usu sing The food chain is a series of living things which are linked to each other because each thing feeds on the one next to it in the series. The whole food chain is affected by the over use of chemicals in agriculture …   English dictionary

  • food chain — ► NOUN ▪ a series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food …   English terms dictionary

  • food chain — food′ chain n. Ecol. ecl a series of organisms interrelated in their feeding habits, the smallest being fed upon by a larger one, which in turn feeds a still larger one • Etymology: 1925–30 …   From formal English to slang

  • food chain — n. Ecol. a sequence (as grass, rabbit, fox) of organisms in a community in which each member feeds on the one below it …   English World dictionary

  • food chain — noun (ecology) a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member • Topics: ↑ecology, ↑bionomics, ↑environmental science • Hypernyms: ↑organic phenomenon • Part Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Food Chain — Das System des Agribusiness Agribusiness oder auch Agrobusiness bezeichnet als Anglizismus (aus dem englischen „agriculture“ und „business“) neben der Landwirtschaft auch die ihr vor und nachgelagerten wirtschaftlichen Aktivitäten. Gemeinsam… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • food chain — UK / US noun [countable, usually singular] Word forms food chain : singular food chain plural food chains 1) biology the natural process in which one living thing is eaten by another, which is then eaten by another, etc Antibiotics used for… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”