7.4.1 Trophic Levels

What are trophic levels?

The different stages in a food chain, represented by numbers.

What type of organisms are found at trophic level 1?

Producers such as plants and algae that make their own food by photosynthesis.

What type of organisms are found at trophic level 2?

Primary consumers, which are herbivores that eat only plants.

What type of organisms are found at trophic level 3?

Secondary consumers, which are carnivores that eat herbivores.

What type of organisms are found at trophic level 4?

Tertiary consumers, which are carnivores that eat other carnivores.

What is an apex predator?

An organism at the top of the food chain with no predators.

How do decomposers break down dead plant and animal matter?

By secreting enzymes that break matter into small soluble food molecules.

How do decomposers absorb the broken-down molecules?

They diffuse into the microorganism.