Chapter 2, Problem 15A

Summary Introduction

To compare:

Howfood chain, food web and trophic level are related.

Introduction:

Organisms are classified in different trophic levels based on the complexity of the food or nutrition they obtain. Food chain is the chain system in which various organisms are linked on the basis of food they eat. Food web is the interconnection of various food chains.

Explanation of Solution

A sequence of transfer of nutrient and energy in the form of food from organism to organism constitutes a food chain. A food chain involves a nutritive interaction between living organisms of an ecosystem.

Trophic level is a specific place in a food chain characterized by method of obtaining its food. The number of trophic levels is equal to the number of steps in the food chain.

Food web is a network of food chains which become interconnected at various trophic levels so as to form a number of feeding connections amongst the different organisms of a biotic community.

Conclusion

Thus, food chain, food web and trophic level are related on the basis of food the organism obtain or the food they eat.