Final answer:
A sequence where organisms eat each other in an ecosystem is known as a food chain. It is a linear model showing energy flow from one organism to another, but most ecosystems are more accurately represented by a food web, which shows complex trophic relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sequence of events in an ecosystem where one organism eats another and is then eaten by another organism is referred to as a food chain. A food chain is an ecological model that represents the linear sequence through which nutrients and energy pass from one organism to another. For example, a simple food chain might look like this: plants -> grasshopper -> bird -> snake -> owl, illustrating the flow of energy as each organism consumes another.
In reality, most ecosystems are more complex than a single linear food chain can represent. This is where a food web comes into play, providing a more accurate graphical representation of the trophic connections between all organisms in an ecosystem. A food web demonstrates the interconnected nature of food chains and highlights how organisms can have multiple dietary links, both as predators and prey, across different trophic levels.