Product Search


Biomass Shrinks With Each Trophic Level


A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem. A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem. Each living thing in an ecosystem is part of multiple food chains. Each food chain is one possible path that energy and nutrients may take as they move through the ecosystem. All of the interconnected and overlapping food chains in an ecosystem make up a food web. Organisms in food webs are grouped into categories called trophic levels. Roughly speaking, these levels are divided into producers (first trophic level), consumers, and decomposers (last trophic level). Producers make up the first trophic level. Producers, also known as autotrophs, make their own food and do not depend on any other organism for nutrition. Most autotrophs use a process called photosynthesis to create food (a nutrient called glucose) from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. Plants are the most familiar type of autotroph, but there are many other kinds.


Algae, whose larger forms are known as seaweed, are autotrophic. Phytoplankton, tiny organisms that live in the ocean, are also autotrophs. Some types of bacteria are autotrophs. For example, bacteria living in active volcanoes use sulfur, not carbon dioxide, to produce their own food. This process is called chemosynthesis. The next trophic levels are made up of animals that eat producers. These organisms are called consumers. Consumers can be carnivores (animals that eat other animals) or omnivores (animals that eat both plants and animals). Omnivores, like people, consume many types of foods. People eat plants, such as vegetables and fruits. We also eat animals and animal products, such as meat, milk, and eggs. We eat fungi, such as mushrooms. We also eat algae, in edible seaweeds like nori (used to wrap sushi rolls) and sea lettuce (used in salads). Bears are omnivores, too. They eat berries and mushrooms, as well as animals such as salmon and deer. Primary consumers are herbivores.


Herbivores eat plants, algae, and other producers. They are at the second trophic level. In a grassland ecosystem, deer, mice, and even elephants are herbivores. They eat grasses, shrubs, and trees. In a desert ecosystem, a mouse that eats seeds and fruits is a primary consumer. In an ocean ecosystem, many types of fish and turtles are herbivores that eat algae and seagrass. In kelp forests, seaweeds known as giant kelp provide shelter and food for an entire ecosystem. Sea urchins are powerful primary consumers in kelp forests. These small herbivores eat dozens of kilograms (pounds) of giant kelp every day. Secondary consumers eat herbivores. They are at the third trophic level. In a desert ecosystem, a secondary consumer may be a snake that eats a mouse. In the kelp forest, sea otters are secondary consumers that hunt sea urchins. Tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers. They are at the fourth trophic level. In the desert ecosystem, an owl or eagle may prey on a snake.


There may be more levels of consumers before a chain finally reaches its top predator. Top predators, also called apex predators, eat other consumers. They may be at the fourth or fifth trophic level. They have no natural enemies except humans. Lions are apex predators in the grassland ecosystem. In the ocean, fish like the great white shark are apex predators. In the desert, bobcats and mountain lions are top predators. Detritivores and decomposers make up the last part of food chains. Detritivores are organisms that eat nonliving plant and animal remains. For example, scavengers such as vultures eat dead animals. Dung beetles eat animal feces. Decomposers, like fungi and bacteria, complete the food chain. Decomposers turn organic wastes, such as decaying plants, into inorganic materials, such as nutrient-rich soil. They complete the cycle of life, returning nutrients to the soil or oceans for use by autotrophs. This starts a whole new series of food chains. Food webs connect many different food chains, and many different trophic levels.


Food webs can support food chains that are long and complicated, or very short. For example, grass in a forest clearing produces its own food through photosynthesis. A rabbit eats the grass. A fox eats the rabbit. When the fox dies, decomposers such as worms and mushrooms break down its body, returning it to the soil where it provides nutrients for plants like grass. This short food chain is one part of the forest's food web. Another food chain in the same ecosystem might involve completely different organisms. A caterpillar may eat the leaves of a tree in the forest. A bird such as a sparrow may eat the caterpillar. A snake may then prey on the sparrow. An eagle, an apex predator, may prey on the snake. Yet another bird, a vulture, consumes the body of the dead eagle. Finally, bacteria in the soil decompose the remains. Algae and plankton are the main producers in marine ecosystems.



Featured Products






Articles


What To Look In Bathroom Vanities With Tops
Guide 11 To Hire A Web Development And Design Company
8 Cloud Computing Trends For 2023 Understanding The Pulse For Business Success
Marketing Tips For Clickbank Affiliates
3 Features Which Make Animal Statues And Fireplaces Highly Adorable Fixtures
How You Can Catch Huge Stripers At The Cape Cod Canal
Make A Northbrook Outdoor Fireplace The Talk Of Your Neighborhood
Importance Of Music Licensing For Film
How To Prepare Poppy Seed Chicken
Outdoor Chaise Lounge Buying Guide
Cooking Milk Fish The Filipino Way
Tablets - Why You Still Need a Notebook
New York Adopts Xpandausa Style Folding Gates
Forex Bliss Formula Review Simplest Way To Make Pips Consistently
Sports Wear Acquiring Is Way To Aid Your Beloved Group Team
A Scentsy Review A Genuine Residence Centered Enterprise
Why Buy Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy
Why Cast Iron Makes Desirable Cookware
Ice Fishing Tips
Show The Crowd A Party With A Wedding Beverly Hills
Luxurious Banquet Tables That Are Perfect For A Sumptuous Feast
Sexy Lingerie For Plus Size Women
Things You Didn T Know Bike Riding Can Do For You
Basic Designs To Look For When Buying Ornamental Aluminum Deck Railing
Get Rid Of Love Handles After Pregnancy With Jennifer Fitness Model Diet
Why Not Try Aluminum Patio Furniture
My Thoughts And Impressions Immediately After Testing The Benq W1070 Home Theater Projector
Ford Trucks Boosts The Pickup Trucks Segment
Want To Kill Weeds Naturally
Top Foldable Exercise Bike Insight
How To View Powerpoint On Iphone
Do You Like It A Little More Comfortable
How Do You Get This Information
The Newer Outfitted Fuel And Lube Trucks
A Short Guide To Mini Dirt Bikes
Top Q0 Pillows For A Good Night S Sleep
Ski Wear Complete Your Skiing Enjoyment
Fitness Holidays Are Good For Everyone
Car Audio Subwoofers For Fanatics
4 Ways To Maintain Air Brake Parts In Winter
Tips To Select A Catering Sydney Firm
Progressive Web App The Future Of Web App
Select From Finely Crafted Albuquerque Jewelry That Will Produce Glimmering Alternative
Points to Keep in Mind While Selecting VTL Amplifiers
Flatware Sets And Flatware Chests
7 Ways of Making Money with your Mobile Game Development Idea
Christening Gowns For Baby At Cheaper Rates
Columbia Rolls Out Omni Heat Electric Gloves Jackets And Boots Batteries Included
Starting An Online Business 3 Common Questions
Snow Removal Several Tips That Can Complete This Task Simpler