Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyEcology and Environment

In a rocky coastal tide pool, sea urchins graze directly on living kelp and marine algae. Which trophic level do sea urchins occupy in this food web?

  1. A
    Primary producer
  2. Primary consumerAnswer
  3. C
    Tertiary consumer
  4. D
    Decomposer

Answer

Primary consumer
In ecological trophic pyramids, autotrophs like kelp and algae produce organic matter, making them primary producers. Herbivores such as sea urchins that feed directly on these producers are defined as primary consumers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the diet and energy source of the organism in the scenario.
Sea urchins feed directly on living kelp and algae, which are photosynthetic autotrophs (primary producers).
An organism's trophic level is determined by its feeding position relative to primary producers.
2
Classify the organism based on its position in the trophic hierarchy.
Organisms that consume primary producers are herbivores, classified as primary consumers.
Herbivores occupy the second trophic tier, transferring energy from producers to higher-level consumers.

Key Concept

Trophic Levels and Herbivore Classification in Food Webs
Estimated Time:45s
Rate this question

Topics

Ecology and Environment

More questions from this topic