Tropic levels

• What are trophic levels?

  Different levels within a food chain
• What is the trophic level of an apex predator like a hawk?

  Trophic 4
• What is the trophic level of a secondary consumer like a snake?

  Trophic 3
• What is the trophic level of primary consumers like a rabbit?

  Trophic 2
• What is the trophic level of producers like grass?

  Trophic 1
• How do producers obtain their energy?

  They use photosynthesis to produce their own food
• What happens to energy as you go up each trophic level?

  Energy gets lost, reducing available energy
• What percentage of energy is passed on to the next trophic level?

  10%
• What are apex predators?

  Carnivores at the top of the chain
• What do omnivores eat?

  Both producers and other animals
• What role do decomposers and detritivores play in an ecosystem?

  They decompose dead plants and animals
• How do decomposers recycle nutrients?

  By breaking down dead matter and returning nutrients
• What are the different trophic levels in a food chain?

  • Trophic 1: Producers (e.g., grass)
  • Trophic 2: Primary consumers (e.g., rabbit)
  • Trophic 3: Secondary consumers (e.g., snake)
  • Trophic 4: Apex predators (e.g., hawk)
• What is the energy transfer in a food chain?

  • Energy decreases as you move up trophic levels
  • Only 10% of energy is passed to the next level
  • Less energy supports fewer organisms at higher levels