Question

The frog that feeds on an insect is a

• A. Tertiary consumer
• B. Decomposer
• C. Primary consumer
• D. Secondary consumer

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Secondary consumer

We can consider a typical food chain in the environment. It can be written as follows.

Sun -----> Green Plants -----> Insects -----> Frogs -----> Snakes.

In this food chain, each component has a definite function. Original Source of energy - the sun provides the energy, that is used by the green plants. The sun is the original source of energy in all food chains on the surface of the earth.

Primary producer - the green plants are the primary producers for the food chain. The energy from the sun is converted by the plants into food.

Primary consumers - the insects are the primary consumers. They are the first animals to eat the plants. When they eat the plants and obtain some of the energy they stored when making food. The rest of the energy is lost and dissipated as heat.

Secondary consumers - insects are eaten by frogs. The frogs are the secondary consumers in this food chain. They obtain part of the energy stored by the insects. The remaining energy stored by the insects is lost.

Tertiary consumers - snakes eat frogs. In this example, the snakes are the tertiary consumers. They obtain part of the energy that is stored by the frogs. The rest of the energy is lost. Thus, the correct answer is option D.