The sequence of transfers of matter and energy from organism to organism in the form of FOOD. Food chains intertwine locally into a food web because most organisms consume more than one type of animal or plant. PLANTS, which convert SOLAR ENERGY to food by PHOTOSYNTHESIS, are the primary food source. In a predator chain, a plant-eating animal is eaten by a larger animal. In a parasite chain, a smaller organism consumes part of a larger host and may itself be parasitized by smaller organisms. In a saprophytic chain, microorganisms live on dead organic matter.

Synonyms: Chains, Saprophytic, Chain, Predator, Saprophytic Chains, Parasite Chain, Chains, Parasite, Saprophytic Chain, Parasite Chains, Food Chain, Food Chains, Food Web, Chain, Food, Web, Food, Predator Chains, Chain, Parasite, Predator Chain, Chains, Food, Chain, Saprophytic, Food Webs, Chains, Predator, Webs, Food