Question

Construct a terrestrial food chain comprising four trophic levels.

Answer 1

Trophic levels:

1. These are the levels at which the organisms obtain their food.
2. Each of the trophic levels has a specific mode of obtaining food.
3. The first trophic level includes producers that produce food from inorganic raw materials with the help of solar energy.
4. The second trophic level consists of herbivores that feed on plants.
5. The third trophic level includes primary carnivores that feed on herbivores.
6. The fourth trophic level comprises secondary carnivores that feed on primary carnivores.
7. The fifth trophic level comprises tertiary carnivores that feed on secondary carnivores.
8. The sixth trophic level includes decomposers.

Terrestrial food chain:

1. A chain that consists of a group of organisms where there is a transfer of food energy through a series of repeated eating and being eaten is called a food chain.
2. In terrestrial ecosystems, the carnivorous level does not go beyond the fifth trophic level and this level is called top carnivores.
3. The terrestrial ecosystem is divided into:

• Producers

1. In terrestrial food, chain producers constitute the first trophic level.
2. They trap solar energy, which is used to obtain carbon dioxide, which is then used to synthesize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
3. Examples are green plants.

• Herbivores

1. They are animals that feed on plants or plant products.
2. Examples include grasshoppers, insects, and tadpoles.

• Primary carnivores

1. They prey upon herbivorous animals.
2. Examples are frogs, predatory insects, birds, and fishes.

• Secondary carnivores

1. They are large carnivores that prey upon primary carnivores.
2. Examples are wolves and snakes feeding on frogs.

• Top carnivores

1. They are the last-order carnivores.
2. They are not preyed upon by other animals.
3. Examples are sharks, tigers, peacocks, crocodiles, etc.

Example of the terrestrial food chain:

$Grass\to Grasshopper\to Frog\to Snake\to Peacock$