Trophic chain or food chain: what is, types and examples

The trophic chain, food chain or food chain of an ecosystem is a scheme in which the Linear relations existing between the species of organisms consumed and consumers. That is, through arrows they show how the energy of an organism is transferred, belonging to a lower trophic level, to another organism, which occupies a higher trophic level.

The amount of energy at each trophic level of the food or food chain can be represented in trophic pyramids or ecological pyramids. At the base, with a greater accumulation of energy are primary producers or producing organisms (autotrophs). Here you can learn more about autotrophic organisms: what are, characteristics and examples.

In the next level, the triangle that represents the energy used and accumulated is smaller (representing 10% of all the energy of the previous level), and so on. The available energy decreases rapidly, so these pyramids are not very long.

Here you can learn more about what are ecological or trophic pyramids and their types.

Some of the main characteristics of trophic chains are:

• The Energy transfer It occurs from organisms simple to more complex.
• The arrows indicate the sense of energy transfer (Unidirectional).
• The links of the food chain or trophic levelseach are represented by a species. In this other article you can see more information about trophic levels: what are, what are and examples.
• The Key species They are able to modify the trophic chains, since their presence/absence controls the abundance of other species by the position they occupy in the trophic network.

There are several types of trophic chains, according to the organisms that begin or are at the base of them:

• Trophic predators or herbivorous chains: Primary producers -> Primary consumers -> Secondary consumers -> Tertiary consumers -> Quaternary consumers.
• Trophic parasites chains: In them the parasites can be the food base for other parasites; Or they feed on very large animals, serving food for smaller animals (such as birds).
• Trophic decomponer chains: Detrites -> Decomponers -> Secondary consumers. Microorganisms decompose dead organic matter.

If you want to know more about predators: what are, types and examples, do not hesitate to consult the following Ecology Verde.

As examples of terrestrial trophic chain we indicate some of those that occur in the Mediterranean forest:

• Retama (primary producer) -> Aphid (primary consumer) -> Herrerillo (secondary consumer) -> Imperial eagle (superdedor).
• Romero (primary producer) -> Rabbit (primary consumer) -> lynx (superdedor).
• Cork oak (primary producer) -> grasshopper (primary consumer) -> wild boar (secondary consumer) -> lynx (superdedor).

Here you can learn more about the Mediterranean forest: characteristics, flora and fauna.

In aquatic ecosystems, trophic chains are longer. As examples of aquatic trophic chain we indicate some marine trophic chain and some fresh water.

Examples of marine trophic chains

Three of the examples of marine food chains are as follows:

• Green algae (primary producer) -> mollusks (primary consumer) -> Cottus cognatus (Secondary consumer) -> Real salmon (tertiary consumer).
• Phytoplankton (primary producer) -> Zooplankton (primary consumer) -> sardine (secondary consumer) -> tuna (superdedor).
• Diatomeas (primary producer) -> Krill (primary consumer) -> Blue whale (secondary consumer) -> orca (superdedor).

Examples of freshwater water trophic chains

Within the examples of freshwater aquatic food chains we can find the following cases.

• ALGAS (Primary producer) -> Fleas of water (primary consumer) -> Barbo (secondary consumer) -> Garzas (tertiary consumer).
• Aeneas (primary producer) -> Saltamontes (primary consumer) -> frog (secondary consumer) -> Real heron (tertiary consumer).

Now that you know the examples of aquatic trophic chains, we will see the difference between trophic chain and trophic network.

The main difference between network and trophic chain is that Chains are isolated relationships of the trophic network. Therefore, The trophic network describes the set of trophic chains present in a given ecosystem.

That is why trophic networks offer a more realistic representation of the eating relationships that occur in a community. However, these trophic networks are more complex and difficult to represent and, therefore, it is usually easier to study trophic chains separately.

Here we tell you more sidewalk about what are trophic networks and examples.

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