• What is a food chain?
• Aquatic food chain
• Terrestrial food chain
• Importance of the food chain
• Examples of the food chain
• Human aquatic food chain

We explain what a food chain is and the links that make it up. Also, how are the aquatic and terrestrial chains.

Food chains are the passage of matter and energy from one organism to another.

What is a food chain?

The food chain is the process by which nutritive substances are transferred between the different species that make up a biological community. The graphic chain who feeds on whom in the nature.

Also called food chain, a food chain shows the stream of nutrients and Energy among the various species from his feeding.

It is made up of links that acquire energy by feeding on the previous species. Within each food chain are the following links:

• Producers. Also known as autotrophs, are those species (basically plants) that make their own food through solar energy and simple substances.
• First-order consumers. They are those species whose diet is based on plants, that is, they are herbivores.
• Second-order consumers. Also called secondary, are the carnivorous species, that is, they eat other animals.
• Decomposers. Those species that ensure that the remains of the other links become part of the I usually. In this link are the mushrooms, worms and certain microorganisms that feed on plant and animal waste.

Aquatic food chain

The aquatic chain includes various levels of producers and consumers.

The aquatic food chain charts the way in which the species that live in the Water they feed on and acquire energy from other species.

Within this chain there are five levels:

• Photoautotrophs. They form the base of the aquatic food chain certain single-celled organisms known as phytoplankton. They are producers who carry out the process of photosynthesis Thanks to the sunlight and they produce organic compounds in addition to oxygen.
• Herbivores. Those aquatic species that have a diet based on plants. These species can live on the surface of the water (like jellyfish or mollusks). Also located at this level are the turtles or certain species of fish that, at the same time, are food for other carnivorous aquatic species.
• Carnivores. Carnivorous species can be of different sizes. Sardines, octopus or squid are some of the species that make up this link.
• Decomposers. They are organisms that decompose the remains of lifeless organisms.

Terrestrial food chain

Giraffes are consumers that eat plants.

Within the terrestrial food chain, three different roles are identified:

• The producers. They are the vegetables that produce energy from sunlight.
• The consumers. Within this link three levels are identified:
  • Primary consumers. Species that feed on plants, fruits, or vegetables. For example: sheep, rabbit, giraffe, cow, etc.
  • Secondary consumers. Carnivorous species that feed on primaries. For example: spider, snake, owl, etc.
  • Tertiary consumers. Species that feed on primary and secondary consumers. Also called predators. For example: Lion, tiger, golden eagle, etc.
  • Omnivores. Consumers of producers and primary consumers (plants and animals). For example: squirrel, fox, some turtles and the human being.
  • Decomposers. The species that feed on the remains of lifeless organisms, which later become part of the soil. For example: bacteria, insects, fungi, etc.

Importance of the food chain

The importance of the food chain lies in the fact that it reflects how the species that make up the same are related ecosystem, in addition to how they feed and transfer energy. Through the food chain, in addition, nature is kept in balance.

Examples of the food chain

Birds eat worms and can then be food for other animals.

Here are some examples of food chains:

• The butterflies They feed on nectar and, at the same time, are the food of other insects that are the food of bats. When they die, they are decomposed by organs and worms.
• Chickens feed on corn and their eggs are food for weasels which, at the same time, are hunted by snakes.
• Zebras, which feed on herbs and shrubs, are often hunted by crocodiles which, when they die, are food for decomposers.
• The worms, which feed on the wood, are the food of certain birds whose eggs are the food of the snakes, which are hunted by the eagles.
• Sardines, which feed on plankton, are the food of species such as cod or herring, which are eaten by dolphins. The latter are the food of the killer whales, which when they die are decomposed by crustaceans Y bacteria.
• Buffaloes, which eat grass, are the habitat and food for ticks, which are then hunted by birds. At the same time, buffalo are preyed upon by felines such as tigers.
• Lobsters, which eat leaves, are food for toads which, in turn, are food for snakes.

Human aquatic food chain

Within the aquatic food chain there are five types of consumers. Within them are the omnivores, which are those that eat vegetables and animals. In this category you can locate the human being.

The human being can consume crustaceans, mollusks, fish, mammals and reptiles, both fresh and salt water. Although it is true that human beings do not live in water, and neither do birds, they can use different techniques to feed on the species that live there.

Some of the instruments that humans use to fish are nets, cages, fishing rods or the harpoon. You can fish from the shore, from boats or underwater.