If a man is eating fish as his food, which trophic level is occupied by him in the food chain?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Fourth
A trophic level is the position an organism holds in a food chain. Producers are the first level, herbivores (primary consumers) the second, and carnivores the third and higher levels. In water the chain usually runs: phytoplankton (producers) → zooplankton (primary consumers) → fish (secondary consumers) → man.
Phytoplankton: first trophic level
Zooplankton: second trophic level
Fish: third trophic level
Man eating the fish: fourth trophic level
Option (1) First — Incorrect. The first level is held only by producers, which make their own food.
Option (2) Second — Incorrect. The second level is the herbivores, here the zooplankton.
Option (3) Third — Incorrect. The third level is the fish itself, which eats the zooplankton.
Option (4) Fourth — Correct. Man eats the fish, so he is one level above it.
NCERT Extract:
Energy Flow –
