Question

Give a brief explanation of why food webs are preferred over food chains for representing the flow of energy in an ecosystem.

Answer 1

The Food webs are preferred over food chains for representing the flow of energy in an ecosystem for the following reasons:

• The food webs are higher in complexity when compared to food chains and also, in food web, more than one primary producers is present which increases the 'flow of energy' in the ecosystem.

• Food web represents the real life better than the food chains do.

• Food web shows many different paths through which the organisms can be connected.