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.

Descriptor ID	D020387
MeSH Number(s)	G16.500.275.157.250 N06.230.124.250
Concept/Terms	Food Chain Food Chain Chain, Food Chains, Food Food Chains Saprophytic Chain Saprophytic Chain Chain, Saprophytic Chains, Saprophytic Saprophytic Chains Predator Chain Predator Chain Chain, Predator Chains, Predator Predator Chains Parasite Chain Parasite Chain Chain, Parasite Chains, Parasite Parasite Chains Food Web Food Web Food Webs Web, Food Webs, Food

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Food Chain".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Food Chain".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Food Chain".