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Multiple Choice
Which of the following prey, when consumed by the elf owl, would classify it as a tertiary consumer?
A
A lizard that eats insects
B
A spider that preys on herbivorous insects
C
A seed-eating mouse
D
A grasshopper that feeds on plants
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of trophic levels. In an ecosystem, organisms are classified into trophic levels based on their feeding relationships. Producers (plants) are at the first level, herbivores (primary consumers) are at the second level, carnivores that eat herbivores (secondary consumers) are at the third level, and carnivores that eat other carnivores (tertiary consumers) are at the fourth level.
Step 2: Analyze the prey options provided in the question. Each prey item represents a different trophic level based on its diet. For example, a seed-eating mouse is a primary consumer because it feeds directly on plants, while a grasshopper that feeds on plants is also a primary consumer.
Step 3: Focus on the prey that could classify the elf owl as a tertiary consumer. A tertiary consumer feeds on secondary consumers, which are organisms that eat primary consumers. For instance, a lizard that eats insects is a secondary consumer because insects are primary consumers.
Step 4: Evaluate the spider that preys on herbivorous insects. Since herbivorous insects are primary consumers, the spider is a secondary consumer. If the elf owl eats the spider, it would be classified as a tertiary consumer.
Step 5: Conclude that the elf owl would be classified as a tertiary consumer if it consumes prey that is a secondary consumer, such as the lizard that eats insects or the spider that preys on herbivorous insects.