What is the main difference between food chains and food webs?

food chains focus on the internal energy cycles of animals, unlike food webs.
food webs do not show connections between animals like food chains.
food webs are more complex than simple food chains. ***
food chains focus on energy transfers, but food webs do not.

for cycling matter and energy quick check on connections

1. B. while detritivores feed on dead organic matter, decomposers actually break down dead or decaying organisms
2. B. Food webs are more complex than simple food chains
3. A. Heterotrophs
4. B. Autotroph
5. A. Matter and energy are cycled through the ecosystem

Agree

Correct is correct :)

The correct answer is: food webs are more complex than simple food chains.

To understand the main difference between food chains and food webs, it is important to first understand what they are.

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms, where each organism depends on the one before it for food. It shows the flow of energy and nutrients from one organism to the next within an ecosystem. For example, in a simple food chain, grass is eaten by a grasshopper, which is then eaten by a frog, and so on.

On the other hand, a food web is a more complex representation of the feeding relationships within an ecosystem. It consists of multiple interconnected food chains, showing the transfer of energy and nutrients between various organisms. Unlike a food chain, a food web includes multiple species and considers the interconnections and interactions among them.

So, the main difference is that food chains focus on linear energy transfers from one organism to another, while food webs encompass the intricate network of feeding relationships among multiple organisms in an ecosystem. As a result, food webs are more complex and realistic representations of the actual energy flow and dynamics in nature.