Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Ecosystem

Question:

What are the animals that depend on primary carnivores for food called?

Options:

Secondary consumers

Tertiary consumers

Primary producers

Decomposers

Correct Answer:

Tertiary consumers

Explanation:

The correct answer is b) Tertiary consumers.

Tertiary consumers are the animals that depend on primary carnivores for food. They are organisms that occupy the highest trophic level in a food chain or food web. Tertiary consumers are also known as top carnivores or apex predators.

Tertiary consumers feed on secondary consumers, which, in turn, obtain their energy by consuming primary consumers (herbivores). By relying on the energy and nutrients obtained from consuming secondary consumers, tertiary consumers complete the transfer of energy through multiple trophic levels.

These organisms are typically carnivorous and are often at the top of the food chain. They may prey on a variety of secondary consumers, including other carnivores or omnivores, and sometimes even feed on primary consumers directly.

Examples of tertiary consumers can include large predators such as lions, wolves, sharks, or eagles, depending on the specific ecosystem and food web structure.

It's important to note that the trophic levels within an ecosystem can vary depending on the specific interactions and feeding relationships. While tertiary consumers are commonly associated with animals that depend on primary carnivores for food, the exact classification may differ based on the specific ecological context and the organisms involved.