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Food Chains & Webs

Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 19.2.1

Food Chains & Webs

Food chains show the feeding relationships and transfers of energy within a community. Below are some important definitions of the types of organisms found in food chains:

Producer

Producer

  • An organism that makes its own organic nutrients, usually using energy from sunlight.
Consumer

Consumer

  • An organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms.
  • Depending on the position of the consumer in the food chain, it may be classed as primary, secondary or tertiary.
Herbivore

Herbivore

  • Animals that get their energy from eating plants.
  • Primary consumers.
Carnivore

Carnivore

  • Animals that get their energy from eating other animals.
  • Secondary and tertiary consumers.
What is a food web?

What is a food web?

  • Food webs show networks of interconnected food chains.

Test yourself on Food Chains & Webs

  • Name the first four components of a typical food chain

  • Producers make their own food using light energy from the sun. What is this process called?

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