Producers (plants or algae) that can use photosynthesis to produce their own food using energy from sunlight
Second trophic level
Primary consumers (herbivores) that consume producers
Third trophic level
Secondary consumers (carnivores) that consume primary consumers
Fourth trophic level
Tertiary consumers (carnivores) that consume secondary consumers
Food chains in different ecosystems can have different numbers of trophic levels, usually no more than 4 or 5
Energy gets lost as you go up trophic levels, with only about 10% of energy passed on to the next level
Apex predators
Carnivores at the very top of the food chain who don't have any predators
Omnivores
Organisms that eat both producers and other animals, usually placed in trophic level 3
Decomposers and detritivores
Organisms like bacteria, fungi, and small animals that help decompose dead plant and animal matter, recycling nutrients back into the ground for producers
