Skip to main content

Vocabulary Term Details

Food chains

Definition (http://www.fao.org/fi/glossary/default.asp)

The transfer of energy from the source in plants trhough a series of organismswith repeated eating and being eaten. At each transfer, a large proportion of the potential energy is lost as heat. The shorter the food chain (or the nearest the organisms from the beginning of the food chain, the greater the available energy which can be converted in biomass. (FAO)

Preferred Units: N/A

Scope Note:
N/A

Broader TermsNarrower TermsRelated Terms
Ecosystems
Trophic levels
Bioaccumulation
Biocoenosis
Biological competition
Biological production
Eutrophication
Primary production

This term is used for the following terms: 
Food webs

Approved Date
29-Jul-2013

Click here to give feedback on this term or suggest an update.