What does a food web illustrate?

A food web illustrates the complex and interconnected feeding relationships among various organisms within an ecosystem. It provides a more comprehensive view of how energy and nutrients flow through different trophic levels and highlights the interactions among multiple species, including producers, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers. Unlike a simple food chain, which represents a singular pathway of energy transfer, a food web encompasses all the various feeding relationships and interactions that exist, showing how different organisms depend on one another for survival.

This interconnectedness is crucial for understanding ecosystem dynamics, as it reflects how changes in population numbers or the introduction of new species can affect the entire food web. By visualizing these relationships, a food web helps scientists and environmentalists assess ecosystem health and stability.