trophic levels

• Trophic levels are the different levels within a food chain
• First trophic level is always a producer like a plant or algae
• Producers are able to use photosynthesis to produce their own food using energy from sunlight
• Energy in the entire food chain comes from producers
• Second trophic level is made up of primary consumers, also known as herbivores, because they only eat plants and algae
• Organisms in the third trophic level are known as secondary consumers, also known as carnivores, because they eat other animals
• Organisms in the fourth trophic level are known as tertiary consumers, also known as carnivores
• Only about 10% of the energy in each trophic level gets passed on to the next level
• Carnivores at the very top of the chain who don't have any predators are known as apex predators
• Omnivores like bears eat both producers and other animals, usually placed in trophic level 3
• Decomposers and detritivores help decompose dead plant and animal matter in the environment
• Decomposers and detritivores recycle nutrients from animals and plants back into the ground for producers to use