4.7.4.1 Trophic Levels Flashcards
1
Q
How can trophic levels be represented?
A
- by numbers
- starts at level 1
2
Q
How are further trophic levels are numbered?
A
- subsequently according to how far the organism is along the food chain
3
Q
What is level 1?
A
- producers (e.g. plants and algae)
- make their own food by photosynthesis
4
Q
What is level 2?
A
- primary consumers
- herbivores that only eat plants
5
Q
What is level 3?
A
- secondary consumers
- carnivores who eat herbivores
6
Q
What is level 4?
A
- tertiary consumers
- carnivores that eat other carnivores
- are at the top of the food chain
- apex predators
7
Q
What are apex predators?
A
- carnivores with no predators
8
Q
What are decomposers?
A
- organisms which break down dead plant and animal matter
9
Q
How do decomposers break down dead matter?
A
- secreting enzymes into environment
- small soluble food molecules then diffuse into microorganism
