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Question

Difficulty: MediumEcology and Environment

In a coniferous forest food chain, bark beetles feed on pine wood, woodpeckers eat the bark beetles, and Cooper's hawks prey on the woodpeckers. Which organism functions as the secondary consumer?

  1. A
    Bark beetle
  2. WoodpeckerAnswer
  3. C
    Cooper's hawk
  4. D
    Pine tree

Answer

Woodpecker
In this food chain, the pine tree is the primary producer, the bark beetle is the primary consumer, the woodpecker is the secondary consumer because it feeds on primary consumers, and the Cooper's hawk is the tertiary consumer.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the base producer and first feeding tier in the chain.
The pine tree is the autotrophic producer, and the bark beetle feeding directly on it is the primary consumer (herbivore).
Trophic hierarchies begin with primary producers followed by primary consumers.
2
Determine the organism that feeds upon the primary consumer.
The woodpecker preys on the bark beetle, classifying the woodpecker as the secondary consumer.
Secondary consumers are carnivores or omnivores that obtain energy by consuming primary consumers.

Key Concept

Trophic levels and consumer roles in ecological food chains
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Ecology and Environment

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