An ecosystem is formed by the biotope, which refers to the physical environment and all those environmental factors that characterize it (light, water, temperature, salinity, pH …), and is also formed by the biocenosis, which includes all those organisms that they inhabit the biotope. These living organisms not only establish relationships with the biotope, but also with each other.
In this Green Ecologist article we will talk about the relationships that exist between organisms and of these with the environment, referring to trophic levels of the food chain. So, if you are interested in this topic, keep reading and discover what are trophic levels, what are they and examples of these. In addition, you will be able to see very simple and practical diagrams that will help you understand this interesting topic.
What are trophic levels
When we talk about the trophic levels of an ecosystem We refer to each of the sets of organisms that are characterized by having the same position in the food chain. That is, it refers to the classification of species or organisms according to the way in which they obtain their food, that is, matter and energy, from the environment of their direct surroundings.
Therefore, there are several trophic levels, which can be organized in a trophic pyramid or similar schemes, and between the different levels trophic relationships are generated, that is, some feed on others, so we can differentiate food chains or food webs.
What are the trophic levels
If you wonder what are the trophic levelsKeep in mind that they are diverse and interrelated. Here we will describe each of them in detail:
Producers
For an ecosystem to function it needs a source of energy, in the case of our planet the main source of energy we have is the sun. Solar energy is captured by those organisms, called autotrophs or photosynthetics, which have structures in their cells capable of transforming the sun's energy into chemical energy. An example would be the presence of chlorophyll in the leaves of plants, which allow them to produce their own organic matter starting from an inorganic substance (water, carbon dioxide) thanks to an energy source. That is why these organisms are called producers, because of their ability to produce organic matter, thus being the initiation of trophic levels of the food chain.
Consumers
The next level in the food chain, or also called the food chain, is that of consumers. Among the consumers we have the primary, secondary and tertiary, these have in common that they are heterotrophic organisms, that is, they do not present structures to synthesize their own organic matter, therefore, they have to take it already synthesized. However, they differ in the way they eat:
- Primary consumers: these are herbivores and they feed on the producing organisms (plants).
- Secondary consumers: organisms carnivores They turn to primary consumers and other secondary consumers (herbivores, other carnivores and omnivores) to feed themselves. Here also organisms are usually included omnivores, which feed both on primary consumers (herbivores, carnivores or other omnivores) and also on producer organisms (plants). Find out more about these organisms with this other post in which we talk about What are omnivorous animals with examples.
- Tertiary consumers: are carnivores that feed on other primary and secondary consumers, but have hardly any predators, that is, they are at the top of the trophic pyramid in terms of deprecation. Sometimes they are also known as super predators.
Decomposers
We reach the last of the trophic levels of the food chain, since the synthesized organic matter has passed from producers to herbivorous consumers and then to carnivores, until reaching the end of the food chain.
The organisms die and they go into decomposition due to the action of the decomposing organisms, which are normally bacteria and fungi, although there are others. These organisms are in charge of transforming organic matter into a simpler one, in inorganic material. This inorganic matter, as we have already mentioned before, is what producing organisms use to generate organic matter thanks to an energy source. Therefore, this inorganic matter would pass to the first trophic level, thus closing the cycle of matter in ecosystems and starting over.
Although at all times we have been talking about the transmission of organic material from one level to another, there is also a energy flow between trophic levels. We cannot forget that solar energy is transformed by producers into chemical energy and this is passing from one level to another, estimating that the amount of energy that is transmitted is 10%. Thanks to this energy the body can carry out its vital functions. We recommend this other article to learn more about What are decomposing living beings.
Examples of trophic levels and food chains
Since we have understood the definition of trophic levels, we will show some examples of food chains in which their trophic levels differ:
- Phytoplankton It is formed by plant organisms, therefore, it belongs to the producer level, this is consumed by small crustaceans, and these by small fish. Lastly, small fish (anchovies) are preyed upon by other larger fish (sardines), and even those that are slightly older could have even bigger predators (sharks). When these living beings die, scavenger species such as crabs are in charge of promoting the decomposition process. Learn more about this topic with this other article about What is phytoplankton.
- Animals like rabbits are primary consumers of herbs and plants, but these are eaten by carnivorous animals (secondary consumers), such as foxes or pumas, when they die they end up being food for carrion birds.
- The larvae of the flies are at the level of decomposersThey feed on decomposing meat, when they reach their adult stage they are food for spiders and these spiders are eaten by animals such as raccoons, which eventually end up being food for carnivorous snakes.
Although we have given examples of chains, we are closer to reality if we talk about trophic webs. It is a more complex interrelation, in which all species of the different levels intervene. An organism not only feeds on one species, but its diet can be composed of the intake of different species or it can be consumed by different species. For example, a rabbit can be the food of a cougar or also a fox and, in turn, these carnivores not only feed on rabbits, but also, for example, on birds.
Now that you know what trophic levels are, what they are and examples of them, you may be interested in delving into What are trophic networks and examples and What are ecological pyramids and their types with these other articles by Green Ecologist.
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