Question

Suppose the biotic component of an ecosystem consists of plants, grasshoppers, praying mantis, mice, frogs, snakes, bears, owls, and shrews. Develop the food web of this ecosystem, and explain how each of these organisms obtains its food at different trophic levels.

Answer 1

The food web of the ecosystem is:

• Plants (producers) synthesize food by photosynthesis.
• Grasshoppers (primary consumers/herbivores) eat plants.
• Mice and shrews (primary consumers) eat plants/grasshoppers.
• Praying mantis and frogs (secondary consumers) eat grasshoppers and mice.
• Snakes (tertiary consumers) eat mice, frogs, and shrews.
• Bears and owls (quaternary consumers) eat snakes, mice, frogs, and shrews.