Chapter 5: Problem 4

Give four categories of consumers in an ecosystem and the role that each plays.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The four categories of consumers in an ecosystem are primary consumers or herbivores, secondary consumers or carnivores that eat herbivores, tertiary consumers or predators that eat both herbivores and carnivores, and decomposers which break down dead organisms and return vital nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Step by step solution

Identify the Four Categories of Consumers

The four main categories of consumers in an ecosystem are primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and decomposers.

Describe Role of Primary Consumers

Primary consumers are usually herbivores, feeding on plants and fungus. Plants represent the first level of a food chain or food web, so primary consumers are the second level.

Describe Role of Secondary Consumers

Secondary consumers are generally meat-eaters, they are carnivores which feed on the primary consumers. They are the third level of a food chain or food web.

Describe Role of Tertiary Consumers

Tertiary consumers are often top predators within the ecosystem. They eat both primary and secondary consumers and keep the food web in balance.

Describe Role of Decomposers

Decomposers break down dead and decaying organisms. They recycle vital nutrients back into the ecosystem, contributing to ecosystem sustainability.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Give four categories of consumers in an ecosystem and the role that each plays.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Identify the Four Categories of Consumers

Describe Role of Primary Consumers

Describe Role of Secondary Consumers

Describe Role of Tertiary Consumers

Describe Role of Decomposers

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Environmental Science Textbooks

Ecology Research

Sustainability

Ecological Conservation

Environmental Research

Environmental Policy

Biological Resources

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.