In ecology, a trophic level is the position that an organism occupies in a food chain or a food web. The sequence of energy transfer through an ecosystem is represented by trophic levels. - The first trophic level consists of producers (organisms that produce their own food, mainly plants through photosynthesis). - The second trophic level consists of primary consumers (herbivores that feed on producers). - The third trophic level consists of secondary consumers (carnivores or omnivores that feed on primary consumers). - The fourth trophic level consists of tertiary consumers (carnivores or omnivores that feed on secondary consumers), and so on. Organisms at different trophic levels are linked together through feeding relationships, forming food chains and food webs.
Trophic levels are formed by -
Asked in UPPCS Prelims 2023 · Topic: Ecology (Food Chains, Food Webs, and Ecological Pyramids)
More Environment and Ecology questions
- With reference to food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements: 1. A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feed upon each other. 2. Food chains are found within the populations of a species. 3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of each organism which are eaten by others. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Assertion (A) : Grazing food chain begins with dead leaves via herbivores to carnivores. Reason (R) : In grazing food chain autotrophs capture energy and transfer to herbivores.
- Pyramid of numbers deals with number of
- Food chain in which microorganisms breakdown the food formed by primary producers is
- Consider the following statements regarding ecological pyramids: 1. In a parasitic food chain, the pyramid of numbers is always upright, 2. Pyramids of biomass are always inverted in marine ecosystems. 3. Pyramids of energy are never inverted. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Which of the following ecological pyramid(s) can never be inverted? (a) Pyramid of numbers (b) Pyramid of biomass (c) Pyramid of energy Correct option is - - (5) Question not attempted
- Assertion (A) : Food chain is the sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of food from organism to organism. Reason (R) : The amount of energy at each trophic level decreases by 50% as it moves through an ecosystem. Select the correct answer given below :
- In which of the following ecosystems the pyramid of biomass is inverted?