Which of these is the best description of 3 food chain? A simplistic model that shows how energy flows between living things. A diagram of the overlapping organisms in an ecosystem. A chain of organisms that survive by living together. A chart showing all of the living things in an ecosystem.

## Step 1<br />A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats or decomposes another. In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, categorized by how many energy transfers it takes to get from the original source of energy (usually the sun) to that organism.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The first option, "A simplistic model that shows how energy flows between living things," is the most accurate description of a food chain. It emphasizes the flow of energy between organisms, which is the core concept of a food chain.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The second option, "A diagram of the overlapping organisms in an ecosystem," is more descriptive of a food web, which is a more complex and interconnected system of food chains.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />The third option, "A chain of organisms that survive by living together," is not a precise description of a food chain. While organisms in a food chain do interact with each other, this option does not capture the essence of energy flow and trophic levels.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />The fourth option, "A chart showing all of the living things in an ecosystem," is more descriptive of an ecological community or an ecosystem, not a food chain.