Final answer:
A food web is the overlap of multiple food chains in an ecosystem, offering a complex and holistic model of interconnected feeding relationships between organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ecosystem often has several food chains that overlap, which is called a food web. The concept of a food web is essential because it demonstrates the complexity of feeding interactions within an ecosystem.
Unlike a simple food chain that represents a single pathway, a food web encompasses multiple intersecting pathways through which energy and matter flow.
It accounts for the fact that many organisms feed on more than one trophic level and have various predators themselves. This creates a network of interconnected relationships that is more representative of the intricate dynamics within an ecosystem.