Food Chains and Food Webs

food web

A community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains

Carnivore

A consumer that eats only animals.

Herbivore (Primary Consumer)

A consumer that eats producers

specialist

A consumer that primarily eats one specific organism or feeds on a very small number of organisms.

food web vs food chain

A food web consists of many food chains. A food chain only follows just one path as animals find food.

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and animals

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms

secondary consumer

An organism that eats primary consumers

primary consumer

An organism that eats producers

tertiary consumer

An organism that eats secondary consumers

trophic level

Each step in a food chain or food web

Generalist

a species with a broad niche that can tolerate a wide range of conditions and can use a variety of resources

Detritivore

organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter

food chain

series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten