Insects are fairly low down (on) the food chain.

在食物链中，昆虫是相当低的一级生物。

《牛津词典》

He looked down to relieve the pain of his neck, and stared at the rusty chain at his feet, which coiled around a metal rod.

他低下了头来缓解脖子的疼痛，眼睛停留在脚下生锈的铁链上，那铁链绕在一根金属杆上。

youdao

The Buddha's teachings were passed down in an unbroken chain of oral tradition for four centuries.

佛陀的教诲以传统的口述方式不间断传承了四个世纪。

youdao

One recent story showed how "fence rustlers" are tearing down chain-link fences to sell to receivers of stolen goods.

FORBES: Press Lords

But researchers think its origins lie further down the food chain - in plants, small mammals or insects.

BBC: News | Africa | Fighting back at ebola

Further down the supply chain, timber-dealers and factories are often certified largely on the strength of documents which may be illegally bought.

ECONOMIST: Western consciences can do only so much to conserve forests