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The Environment - How Does A Food Chain Work?

How does a food chain work?

A food chain is the transfer of food energy from one organism to another. It begins with a plant, which is eaten by an animal. It continues with a second animal, which eats the first, and so on. There are usually four or five steps or "links" in a sequence. The concept of food chains was introduced by German zoologist (scientist who studies animals) Karl Semper in 1891.

The links in a food chain are called trophic levels. Each trophic level is occupied by a group of organisms that obtain their food in the same way. The first trophic level is occupied by plants. The second level is occupied by herbivores, animals (such as rabbits) that eat plants. The third level consists of primary carnivores, which are animals that eat herbivores. An example of a primary carnivore is a fox. The final link in a food chain is occupied by a "top predator," a carnivore which is not hunted by other animals, such...

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