Ecologically, algae are at the base of the food chain. They are the beginning of the transfer of solar energy to biomass that transfers up trophic levels to the top predators. Phytoplankton, are largely responsible for this primary production.
Is algae at the bottom of the food chain?
Algae and plants are at the bottom of the food chain, and are important for the survival of everything else living in the lake. Some aquatic insects also eat algae, while some are predators and eat other insects or zooplankton. This group of organisms is very numerous in a healthy ecosystem.
Why do food chains start with plants or algae?
As the bodies of large animals such as whales sink to the seafloor, detritivores such as worms break down the material. The nutrients released by the decaying flesh provide chemicals for algae and plankton to start a new series of food chains.
Is algae a secondary consumer?
The Role of Algae Primary consumers eat algae and in turn are eaten by secondary consumers, which may then be eaten by tertiary consumers. Without the energy in the form of carbohydrates produced by algae, there would be no energy available for consumers, including scavengers and decomposers.
What are primary and secondary customers?
Primary customer/user: The ones that finds a real and tangible value in your product and who are willing to pay for that. Secondary customer/user: The ones that the primary user is dependent on and who have the underlying needs that is fulfilled by your product, courtesy of the primary customer.
What is second in the food chain?
The second trophic level consists of organisms that eat the producers. These are called primary consumers, or herbivores. There may be more levels of consumers before a chain finally reaches its top predator. Top predators, also called apex predators, eat other consumers.
What is a food chain in the ecosystem?
A food chain describes how energy and nutrients move through an ecosystem. At the basic level there are plants that produce the energy, then it moves up to higher-level organisms like herbivores. There are primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers and decomposers- all part of the food chain.
What organisms are at level 1 on a food web?
Level 1: Plants and algae make their own food and are called producers. Level 2: Herbivores eat plants and are called primary consumers. Level 3: Carnivores that eat herbivores are called secondary consumers. Level 4: Carnivores that eat other carnivores are called tertiary consumers.