What is a food web?

A food web is best described as a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms. In ecosystems, different species interact with one another in multiple ways through various feeding habits, forming interconnected paths of energy transfer. Unlike a food chain, which presents a linear sequence of who-eats-who, a food web illustrates the variety of routes that energy and nutrients can take as they flow through the ecosystem.

This complexity reflects the reality of biological interactions, where many organisms can be both predators and prey, depending on their life stage, environmental conditions, and availability of resources. Thus, understanding food webs allows for insight into ecosystem dynamics, stability, and biodiversity, highlighting how multiple species coexist and interact within their habitats.