Trophic levels

A trophic level is a stage in a food chain.

Now you know that Trophic means nutrition, then trophic level must mean nutrition level.

The first trophic level is always a producer (plant).

Examples

Food chain diagram showing an example of consumer at each stage

In this example of a food chain the first trophic level is the oak tree. The second trophic level is the caterpillar and the third trophic level is the treecreeper (small bird). The hawk would be the fourth trophic level in this food chain.

NOTE:

For producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer and tertiary consumer follow the links.

The first trophic level is the producer in a food chain, this is usually a plant.

Examples of producers can be algae, grass and trees

Examples include: Algae, Grass and trees

The second trophic level is the primary consumer in a food chain, this is usually a herbivore.

Examples of organisms at the second tropic level are usually herbivores

Examples include: caterpillars, cows, locusts, rabbits, tadpoles and shrimp

The third trophic level is the secondary consumer in a food chain, this is either a carnivore or an omnivore.

Examples of organisms on the third tropic level these are usually some carnivores or omnivores

Examples include: frogs, crabs, black birds, foxes and badgers

The forth trophic level in a food chain is the tertiary consumer, this is usually a carnivore but may sometimes be an omnivore.

Organisms on the third trophic level are tertiary consumers usually carnivores but some omnivores

Examples include: hawks, humans, great white sharks and bears