Explain why, in relation to specific natural conditions, it is more correct to speak about food webs, and not about food chains?

Food chains are always linear. They reflect the simplest relationship. They show that one species can feed on only one other species.

In nature, however, everything is much more complicated, most often food is more varied. One species can feed on several others at once, sometimes the trophic level of an animal depends on its size.

Compare, for example: zooplankton – plankton – fish – squid – cod.

In fact, the same squid can both feed on small cod and serve as food for large ones.

Another example – a hawk can eat mice. At the same time, he can eat a snake that was previously eaten by a mouse.