Question

Which among the following animals can occupy more than one trophic level in the same ecosystem at the same time?

• A. Lion
• B. Goat
• C. Falcons
• D. Sparrow

Answer 1

The correct option is D Sparrow

Organisms occupy a place in the natural surroundings or in the community according to their feeding relationship with other organisms. Organisms occupy different places in the food chain with respect to the source of their nutrition or food which is known as their trophic level.

A single species may occupy more than one trophic level. Among the options given in the question, Sparrow is omnivorous and can be a primary consumer if it feeds on seeds, fruits and peas or a secondary consumer if it feeds on insects and worms.

There are three basic ways in which organisms get food: as producers, consumers, and decomposers. Producers (autotrophs) are typically plants or algae. Plants and algae don't generally eat other organisms, but take nutrients from the soil or the ocean and manufacture their own food using photosynthesis. For this reason, they are called primary producers. Thus, it is energy from the sun that generally powers the base of the food chain.

Consumers (heterotrophs) are species that can't manufacture their own food and wish to consume other organisms. Animals that feed on primary producers are called herbivores. Animals that eat other animals are called carnivores, and animals that eat both plants and other animals are called omnivores.

Lions and Falcons are voracious carnivores, they feed on only meat and Goats are herbivores and they eat only vegetation, grass is one among their favourites.