A food chain, as a biological process, represents the unidirectional flow of energy and matter through trophic levels within an ecosystem via consumption and assimilation. It begins with primary producers (typically photosynthetic or chemosynthetic organisms) that convert inorganic resources into biomass, followed by successive levels of consumers (primary, secondary, tertiary, etc.) that obtain energy by feeding on organisms from lower trophic levels. At each transfer, a substantial portion of energy is dissipated as heat, consistent with the second law of thermodynamics. Decomposers mediate the terminal processing of organic matter, recycling nutrients and partially closing biogeochemical cycles.
Predators don't expect to be preyed upon, and especially not by herbivores such as caterpillars. The slow-moving, leaf-eating larvae may only intend to consume plants, but sometimes tiny creatures making their homes under ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 8, 2026
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Under the Arctic sea ice, fish and plankton live in complete darkness, even in midsummer. Ice floes stop the sun's rays, especially if they are covered by snow. As the ocean heats up, the sea ice thaws, and new regions are ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 9, 2026
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144
In 2022, a Russian whale researcher made a remarkable discovery on Bering Island off Russia's Pacific coast: a severed killer whale fin marked with the teeth of another killer whale. In 2024, it happened again. The two finds ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 2, 2026
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More extreme weather and shifting growing seasons are putting pressure on school meal programs, which serve nearly half a billion children worldwide. Jennifer Burney, a professor of Earth system science and of environmental ...
Environment
Feb 24, 2026
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With insect farming projected to produce millions of tons of insects in the coming years, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers offer evidence that the insect farming byproduct called "frass" can improve soil ...
Ecology
Jan 30, 2026
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Corn is a colossal grain in the global food and feed chain, with the U.S. producing roughly 30% of the world's supply, or nearly 278 million metric tons in the 2024–25 growing season alone. But its journey from wild grass ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 22, 2026
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A new UNSW-led global meta-analysis shows that PFAS concentrations can double at every step up the food chain, leaving top predators—and humans—potentially exposed to higher chemical loads.
Environment
Dec 22, 2025
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111
Long before humans reached orbit, insects had already shown they could handle the hurdles of spaceflight. Light, highly adaptable and nutritionally rich, these resilient animals present an attractive option for European researchers ...
Space Exploration
Nov 7, 2025
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65
Antarctic krill, tiny shrimp-like creatures, are an important species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem and global carbon cycle, in part because of their poop. Their dense and rich fecal pellets sink rapidly, transporting carbon ...
Ecosystems are characterized by interconnected structure and functions. A study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Casey Benkwitt at Lancaster University, United Kingdom and colleagues suggests that restoring ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 8, 2025
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