Question

With respect to the given example of a food web, which level of the consumers does the bear belong to?

• A. Primary consumer
• B. Secondary consumer
• C. Both A and B
• D. Primary, Secondary and Tertiary consumer

Answer 1

The correct option is D Primary, Secondary and Tertiary consumer

The bear is a primary consumer as it directly feeds on plants, berries in this case. The bear, when eats rodents, becomes a secondary consumer. Rodents feed on grass, so is a primary consumer. When the bear eats salmon, the bear is functioning as a tertiary consumer as salmons are secondary consumers that feed on zooplankton (primary consumers). Zooplankton feeds on phytoplankton which are aquatic plants.