Major Trophic Levels |
||
Trophic Level |
Source of Energy |
Examples |
Photosynthesizers |
Solar Energy |
Green plants, protists, bacteria |
Herbivores |
Photosynthesizers |
Water Fleas, plankton, coral |
Primary Carnivores |
Herbivores |
Water spiders, turtles, trout |
Secondary Carnivores |
Primary Carnivores |
Tuna, whales, sharks |
Much energy is lost between the different trophic levels. Only a small amount of energy is passed on from each level to the next. Therefore, the greater organism near the end of the trophic level (or food chain) is obtaining the least amount of energy. That is why they have to consume such large quantities of food. The energy is lost because these organisms use the energy to maintain normal body functions (such as respiration) and it dissipates as heat. This heat can not be used by other organisms.
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