Question

"In a food chain, a trophic level represents a functional level, not a species." Explain.

Answer 1

In a food chain, a trophic level represents a functional level, not a species as the same level may be occupiable by other animals. Example: grass can be eaten both by rabbit and deer who in turn can be eaten by a fox or a lion. There is no specificity of the pathway. Therefore a food chain may consist of any species of animals acting as a functional unit.