Interconnected food chains are called a food web.
A food web is a complex network of multiple food chains that are linked together within an ecosystem.
While a food chain shows a linear sequence of organisms where each one is eaten by the next, a food web demonstrates how different food chains overlap and interconnect.
This interconnection reflects the diverse feeding relationships among organisms, indicating that most species consume and are consumed by more than one type of organism.
Food webs provide a more accurate and realistic representation of how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem.
They also highlight the balance and interdependence within ecosystems, showing how the removal or decline of one species can impact many others.
Thus, the concept of a food web is crucial for understanding ecosystem stability and biodiversity.