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Multiple Choice
An owl is eating a mouse. A wild cat eats the owl. What is the wild cat in this system?
A
Primary producer
B
Decomposer
C
Tertiary consumer
D
Primary consumer
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of a food chain. A food chain represents the flow of energy and nutrients through different organisms in an ecosystem, starting with producers and moving through various levels of consumers.
Step 2: Identify the primary producer in the system. Primary producers are organisms, like plants or algae, that create their own food through photosynthesis. In this case, the mouse likely consumed plants, which are the primary producers.
Step 3: Determine the primary consumer. Primary consumers are herbivores that eat primary producers. Here, the mouse is the primary consumer because it feeds on plants.
Step 4: Identify the secondary consumer. Secondary consumers are carnivores or omnivores that eat primary consumers. The owl is the secondary consumer because it eats the mouse.
Step 5: Finally, determine the role of the wild cat. Tertiary consumers are predators that eat secondary consumers. Since the wild cat eats the owl, it is classified as a tertiary consumer in this food chain.