Food chains and food webs

The nutritional sequence that leads from producers to top carnivores is known as a food chain. Most
chains start with producers who produce organic food for consumers. Arrows in food chain show the
movement of food from one organism to the next and represent the movement of energy.

The levels in a food chain are referred to as trophic levels (trophic = feeding) as shown below.

A typical food chain in an oak wood might be –

Oak Winter Moth Blue Tit Weasel

Primary consumer/ Secondary consumer/ Tertiary consumer/

Producer
Herbivore Carnivore 1 Carnivore 2

Trophic Level 1 2 3 4
Food chains rarely exceed 6 organisms (trophic levels), why is this?

A food web is made up of many interconnected food chains as most animals have more than one
source of food. Study the food web on the next page, then answer the questions below.

1. Where does all of the initial energy come from?

2. Name:
a. Three producers

b. Two decomposers

3. Name an omnivore

4. Complete the food chains below –

Herbs --------> --------> -------->

Oak --------> --------> --------> Shrew

Organic --------> --------> --------> Owl

matter