"The transfer of energy from the source in plants trhough a series of organismswith repeated eating and being eaten. At each transfer, a large proportion of the potential energy is lost as heat. The shorter the food chain (or the nearest the organisms from the beginning of the food chain, the greater the available energy which can be converted in biomass" . (Odum, 1959)
FOOD CHAIN
Meaning of FOOD CHAIN in English
Fishery English glossary. Английский глоссарий рыболовства . 2012