Question

When a big fish eats a small fish which eats water fleas supported by phytoplanktons, the water fleas are

• A. Producers
• B. Primary consumers
• C. Secondary consumers
• D. Top consumers in this food chain

Answer 1

The correct option is B Primary consumers

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. Producers are the first trophic level in the ecosystem and form the base of the food chain by obtaining nutrition from inorganic materials and sunlight energy. In aquatic ecosystems phytoplankton are the primary producers; other aquatic plants also contribute but to a lesser extent. Zooplanktons such as water fleas, feeding on phytoplankton occupy the primary consumer trophic level.

So the correct option is 'primary consumers'.