The food chain describes who eats whom in the wild.

Every living thing—from one-celled algae to

For example, grass produces its own food from sunlight. A rabbit eats the grass. A fox eats the rabbit. When
the fox dies, bacteria break down its body, returning it to the soil where it provides nutrients for plants like
grass.

Of course, many different animals eat grass, and rabbits can eat other plants besides grass. Foxes, in turn,
can eat many types of animals and plants. Each of these living things can be a part of multiple food chains.
All of the interconnected and overlapping food chains in an ecosystem make up a food web.

Trophic Levels

Organisms in food chains are grouped into categories called trophic levels. Roughly speaking, these levels
are divided into producers (first trophic level), consumers (second, third, and fourth trophic levels),
and decomposers.

Producers, also known as autotrophs, make their own food. They make up the first level of every food
chain. Autotrophs are usually plants or one-celled organisms. Nearly all autotrophs use a process
called photosynthesis to create “food” (a nutrient called glucose) from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Plants are the most familiar type of autotroph, but there are many other kinds. Algae, whose
larger forms are known as seaweed, are autotrophic. Phytoplankton, tiny organisms that live
in the ocean, are also autotrophs. Some types of bacteria are autotrophs. For example,
bacteria living in active volcanoes use sulfur compounds to produce their own food. This
process is called chemosynthesis.

The second trophic level consists of organisms that eat the producers. These are
called primary consumers, or herbivores. Deer, turtles, and many types of birds are
herbivores. Secondary consumers eat the herbivores. Tertiary consumers eat the secondary
consumers. There may be more levels of consumers before a chain finally reaches its top
predator. Top predators, also called apex predators, eat other consumers.

Higher-level consumers (i.e., secondary, tertiary, and above) can be carnivores (animals that
eat other animals) or omnivores (animals that eat both plants and animals). Omnivores, like
people, consume many types of foods. People eat plants, such as vegetables and fruits. We
also eat animals and animal products, such as meat, milk, and eggs. We eat fungi, such as
mushrooms. We also eat algae, in edible seaweeds like nori (used to wrap sushi rolls) and sea
lettuce (used in salads).
Food Chains

Different habitats and ecosystems provide many possible food chains that make up a food web.
In one marine food chain, single-celled organisms called phytoplankton provide food for tiny shrimp
called krill. Krill provide the main food source for the blue whale, an animal on the third trophic level.

In a grassland ecosystem, a grasshopper might eat grass, a producer. The grasshopper might get eaten by a rat, which in
turn is consumed by a snake. Finally, a hawk—an apex predator—swoops down and snatches up the snake.

In a pond, the autotroph might be algae. A mosquito larva eats the algae, and then perhaps a dragonfly larva eats the
young mosquito. The dragonfly larva becomes food for a fish, which provides a tasty meal for a raccoon.
Food webs connect many different
food chains, and many different
trophic levels. Food webs can support
food chains that are long and
complicated, or very short. For
example, grass in a forest clearing
produces its own food through
photosynthesis. A rabbit eats the grass.
A fox eats the rabbit.
A food web is a visual way to show what the organisms in a habitat eat. It is a
diagram that illustrates how food chains are connected and form an ecosystem
because most species eat more than just one kind of food.
A food web is usually divided into three levels, also called trophic levels:
producers, consumers, and decomposers. Consumers further break down into
primary, secondary, and tertiary categories. These mean herbivores who eat
only plants, the animals that prey on herbivores, and the animals who prey on
those predators.
Producers make up the first trophic level. Producers, also known as autotrophs, make their own food and
do not depend on any other organism for nutrition. Most autotrophs use a process
called photosynthesis to create food (a nutrient called glucose) from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.

Plants are the most familiar type of autotroph, but there are many other kinds. Algae, whose larger forms
are known as seaweed, are autotrophic. Phytoplankton, tiny organisms that live in the ocean, are
also autotrophs. Some types of bacteria are autotrophs. For example, bacteria living in
active volcanoes use sulfur, not carbon dioxide, to produce their own food. This process is
called chemosynthesis.

Consumers

The next trophic levels are made up of animals that eat producers. These organisms are called consumers.

Consumers can be carnivores (animals that eat other animals) or omnivores (animals that eat
both plants and animals). Omnivores, like people, consume many types of foods. People eat plants, such
as vegetables and fruits. We also eat animals and animal products, such as meat, milk, and eggs. We
eat fungi, such as mushrooms. We also eat algae, in edible seaweeds like nori (used to wrap sushi rolls)
and sea lettuce (used in salads). Bears are omnivores, too. They eat berries and mushrooms, as well as
animals such as salmon and deer.
Primary consumers are herbivores. Herbivores eat plants, algae, and other producers. They
are at the second trophic level. In a grassland ecosystem, deer, mice, and even elephants
are herbivores. They eat grasses, shrubs, and trees. In a desert ecosystem, a mouse that
eats seeds and fruits is a primary consumer.

In an ocean ecosystem, many types of fish and turtles are herbivores that
eat algae and seagrass. In kelp forests, seaweeds known as giant kelp provide shelter and
food for an entire ecosystem. Sea urchins are powerful primary consumers in kelp forests.
These small herbivores eat dozens of kilograms (pounds) of giant kelp every day.

Secondary consumers eat herbivores. They are at the third trophic level. In
a desert ecosystem, a secondary consumer may be a snake that eats a mouse. In
the kelp forest, sea otters are secondary consumers that hunt sea urchins.

Tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers. They are at the fourth trophic level. In
the desert ecosystem, an owl or eagle may prey on a snake.