Question

With reference to food chains, what is a trophic level?

Answer 1

A trophic level is a functional position an organism occupies in a food chain, representing its feeding level. Producers form the first trophic level; herbivores, the second; primary carnivores, the third; secondary carnivores, the fourth, and so on. Each trophic level reflects a stepwise transfer of food and energy. A species may occupy different trophic levels based on its diet. The amount of living material at a trophic level is called the standing crop.