2.2.15—Food webs

A food web joins overlapping chains; arrows show matter and energy from food to consumer, and omnivores can occupy different levels in different paths.

When one prey changes, follow each link. Generalists may switch food; specialists may fall sharply, and indirect effects can travel to the prey’s food.

If one insect declines, a specialist bird loses food while a generalist shifts to berries; reduced grazing may let plants increase.

No. Its level depends on which food path is being traced.

A web cannot be read as one single chain.