Gunpreet, Subject Matter Expert at Edumarz
Answer: In a food chain, each step or level where food and energy get transferred is called a trophic level.
An example of a food chain is:
Grass → Insect → Frog → Snake
This is an example of a food chain in grassland.
1. First trophic level: Producers form the first trophic level. They are also known as autotrophs because they prepare their food with the help of solar energy. They fix the solar energy into chemical energy that transfers into the next levels. In the given example, Grass is the producer.
2. Second trophic level: Primary consumers make the second trophic level of a food chain. They are known as herbivores because they consume producers. In the given example, Insects are the primary consumers.
3. Third trophic level: This level comprises secondary consumers or small carnivores. Carnivores are the organisms that eat other organisms. In the given example, the frog occupies the third trophic level, so it is a secondary consumer.
4. Fourth trophic level: Tertiary consumers or large carnivores constitute the fourth trophic level. Snake is present at the fourth trophic level in the given example of the food chain, thus it is a tertiary consumer.