Question

Can you work out how many trophic levels human beings function at in a food chain?

Answer 1

Part 1: Significance of trophic level
Trophic levels are the functional unit of the food chain and represent the nutritional status of individuals. The trophic levels are of:

• Producers
• Primary consumers
• Secondary consumers
• Tertiary consumers

These trophic levels represent the food that the individuals feed on. Example: Producers make their own food whereas consumers eat on the previous trophic level to gain nutrition.

Part 2: Humans in the food chain
Organisms, especially the consumers can be placed on the food chain based on their food habits. Humans are omnivores:

• If they feed on plants, they become primary consumers
• If they feed on animals, they become secondary or tertiary consumers.

Therefore, humans can function at a minimum of three trophic levels.