Question

Will the impact of removing all the organisms in the trophic level be different for different trophic levels? Can the organisms of any trophic level be removed without causing any damage to the ecosystem?

Answer 1

Trophic level:

1. The position occupies by organisms in the food chain is called a trophic level.
2. Yes, the impact of removing all the organisms in the trophic level is different for different trophic levels.

Impacts of removing organisms of different trophic levels:

(1) Producers (green plants):

1. Plants prepare their food by photosynthesis.
2. Now, the removal of producers affects the herbivores (absence of food), and now the carnivores would also die because of the absence of herbivores.

(2) Herbivores:

1. These are organisms that feed on plants.
2. Now, if herbivores remove, plants would grow enormous; carnivores again would not get food and die off.

(3) Carnivores:

1. These are organisms that eat meat.
2. The removal of carnivores leads to an increased population of herbivores.

The organisms of any trophic level cannot be removed without causing any damage to the ecosystem because it creates ecological imbalance by disturbing the food web.

Example:

Grass → Grasshopper → Mice → Snake → Hawk

1. Now if we remove grasshoppers and mice, the grass grows enormously.
2. If snakes are removed, the population of mice increases and directly disturbs the entire ecosystem.