It is to be noted that food chains do not operate in isolation. On the contrary, they are inter-connected with each other forming some sort of interlinked pattern, which is referred to as a food web.
In nature the linear arrangement of food chains does not occur, and these remain inter-connected with each other through different types of organisms at different trophic levels.
In such a food web in grassland, as depicted in figure 55.6, there may be seen 5 linear food chains, which in sequence are:
(i) Grass -> Grasshopper -> Hawk
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(ii) Grass -> Grasshopper -> Lizard -> Hawk
(iii) Grass -Rabbit -> Hawk oV Fox or Vulture
(iv) Grass Mouse -> Hawk
(v) Grass -> Mouse -> Snake or Hawk
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However, food web may be more complex than what has been shown here.
Components of food web fall into the following four main categories:
1. The primary consumers (herbivores)
2. The secondary consumers (carnivores)
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3. The third category of omnivores
4. The final and the fourth category of decomposers.