what is food web?

A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains within an ecological community. It illustrates how different species are related through their feeding relationships and energy flow. In a food web:
* Producers (Autotrophs): These are typically plants and algae that produce energy through photosynthesis.
* Primary Consumers (Herbivores): These animals eat producers.
* Secondary Consumers (Carnivores): These animals eat primary consumers.
* Tertiary Consumers (Top Predators): These are carnivores that eat secondary consumers.
* Decomposers (Detritivores): These organisms, like bacteria and fungi, break down dead plants and animals, returning essential nutrients to the ecosystem.
A food web provides a more accurate representation of how energy and nutrients circulate within an ecosystem compared to a linear food chain, as it shows the multiple feeding relationships and interactions among different species.