Question

Consider the given food chain and complete the given analogy.

Phytoplankton → Zooplankton → Small fishes → Large fishes

Phytoplankton: Producer :: Small fishes: ___________

• A. Primary consumers
• B. Secondary consumers
• C. Tertiary consumers
• D. Top carnivores

Answer 1

The correct option is B Secondary consumers

The living organisms in an ecosystem occupy specific trophic levels in a particular food chain, based on their source of food.

The organisms of lower trophic levels are eaten by the organisms of the next higher trophic level, establishing a food chain which shows the linear relationship of eating and being eaten.

Given in the question is an example of a grazing food chain in an aquatic ecosystem. Grazing food chains always begin with photosynthetic producers as the first trophic level.

In aquatic ecosystems, producers are the photosynthetic organisms that can prepare their own food, e.g., phytoplankton

Microscopic organisms such as zooplankton directly feed on the phytoplankton and are called primary consumers.

The carnivorous animals which feed upon the primary consumers are called secondary consumers, e.g., small fishes

Secondary consumers are fed upon by top carnivores such as larger fishes which are known as tertiary consumers. Example: Shark

Thus, Phytoplankton: Producer :: Small fishes: Secondary consumers.