Key Stage 4
Meaning
A trophic level is an organism's stage in a food chain.
About Trophic Levels
The trophic levels are:
- Producers - Organisms which made their own food by photosynthesis.
- Primary Consumers - Herbivores that eat producers.
- Secondary Consumers - Carnivores or omnivores that eat the primary consumers.
- Tertiary Consumers - Carnivores or omnivores which eat secondary consumers. These are often called apex predators which are not hunted by another organism.
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| In this food chain the grass is the first trophic level (a producer). The grasshopper, pied flycatcher, skunk and vulture are all consumers. The vulture is also the last trophic level and a top carnivore. It is not an apex predator because it does not hunt for prey, it is a scavenger. |
References
AQA
- Trophic level, pages 323, 330-1, 360, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Trophic levels, pages 120-122, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Trophic levels, pages 287-94, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Trophic levels, pages 300-303, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Trophic levels, pages 353, 355, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA