Food chain and ecosystem

In short: An ecosystem consists of living organisms and their habitat, which interact. The food chain shows who eats whom and how energy is passed on.

In more detail: Several linked food chains form a food web.

In detail

• Producers: Plants and algae produce biomass through photosynthesis (fotosynthese).
• Consumers: Herbivores (primary), carnivores (secondary and higher).
• Decomposers: Fungi and bacteria break down dead matter and return nutrients (bodenaufbau-und-humus).
• Energy pyramid: About 90 percent of energy is lost per level.
• Material cycles: Carbon, nitrogen and water circulate (kohlenstoffkreislauf).
• Balance: Predator-prey relationships fluctuate.
• Keystone species: Some species have a large effect (e.g. beavers, wolves).
• Interventions: Toxins accumulate in the chain; loss of a species can disturb the web (biodiversitaet-und-artenvielfalt).