trophic levels

• • trophic level 1 are the producers, plants and algae
  • they make their own food by photosynthesis
• • trophic level 2 are primary consumers, those who eat the producers
  • they are herbivores
• • trophic level 3 are secondary consumers, organisms that eat the primary consumers
  • they are carnivores
• • trophic level 4 are tertiary consumers, organisms that eat the secondsry consumers
  • they are apex predators - carnivores with no predators
• • decomposers are microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that decompose remains of plants and animals and their waste
  • they do this by secreting enzymes that break down the remains into small soluble food molecules which then diffuse into the microorganism
  • this also releases nutrients into the environment, which helps the producers to grow