Living organisms that (green plants) produce their own food and form the first trophic level. They have the greatest amount of energy.
Consumers
Primary consumers: Herbivores, occupy the 2nd trophic level
Secondary consumers: Carnivores or omnivores, occupy the 3rd trophic level
Tertiary consumers: Carnivores or Omnivores, occupy the 4th trophic level
Herbivores
Animals that feed on plants only
Carnivores
Animals that feed on other animals (meat) only
Omnivores
Animals that feed on both plants and animals
Decomposers
Organisms that break down dead organic material and wastes. Bacteria and fungi are decomposers.
Nearly all of the energy in Earth's ecosystems originates from the Sun.
The energy is distributed in the ecosystem through the food chains and food webs.
Living organisms occur at different feeding levels in an ecosystem (food chains or food webs). These feeding levels are called trophic levels.
Energy is used by the organisms at each trophic level. These organisms use some of the energy for growth or some of the energy is lost as heat energy through respiration or some of the energy is last in urine and faeces. This energy is therefore not available for the next trophic level.
Ecological pyramid
A diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
Types of ecological pyramids
Energy pyramid: shows relative amounts of energy available at different trophic levels
Biomass pyramid: shows the total mass of the organisms at each trophic level
Number pyramid: shows total number of organisms at each trophic level
Photosynthesis is the process by which producers (green plants) are able to manufacture their own food by using the radiant energy from the sun.
Energy is transferred from one trophic level to another through the consumption of biomass.
Trophic dynamics refers to how organisms interact within food webs or chains.
