Food web — The interconnected feeding relationships among species in an ecosystem. Unlike a single-path food chain, it includes multiple prey and predators and better represents how ecological roles overlap.
Understanding by example
A small lizard is a predator of the insects it eats and prey to snakes or birds. Its role changes with the relationship being described. Diet composition can also vary by region, season and body size.
Common misconceptions
Arrows in a food-web diagram usually point in the direction of energy flow, from the organism eaten to the consumer, but always check the legend. A wild prey record is not automatically a daily captive-feeding recommendation, and rare observations should be separated from the main diet.
Related reading and sources
For species-specific context, see Foraging by Ackie Monitors. Browse the full glossary.
Basic reference: OpenStax Biology 2e: Energy Flow through Ecosystems.